GACC urges students to contribute to corruption-free society
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) is advocating for the active involvement of young people in efforts to build corruption-free society where public trust and democratic principles are upheld.
They must demonstrate patriotism by rejecting all forms of corrupt practices and oppose electoral violence as Ghana heads towards the 2024 general elections.
Mrs. Beauty Emefa Nartey, the Executive Secretary of GACC, made the call in a speech read for her at separate engagements with students of Opoku Ware School and Anglican Senior High School in Kumasi to commemorate the 2024 African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Day.
The African Union marks the African Anti-corruption Day on July 11 annually to commemorate the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
“Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption,” is the theme chosen for the 2024 celebration.
With funding support from the Hewlett Foundation, the GACC and its Local Accountability Networks (LANets) are commemorating the 2024 AU Anti-corruption Day in 33 districts across 14 regions.
The goal is to empower first-time voters and minors in basic and second cycle schools on electoral corruption offenses, whistle blowing and the importance of upholding Ghana’s electoral integrity.
The youth, according to Mrs. Nartey, were expected to serve as advocates and champions for the fight against corruption.
She said about 16,000 Ghanaian youth were engaged in 2023 on the ills of corruption and the roles they could play in shaping their desired future.
“As we commemorate this important day, we ask the youth particularly, and Ghanaians in general, to guard against abuse of power and hold individuals and institutions to account,” she implored.
Mrs. Nartey said corruption continues to impede the developmental progress of many African countries including Ghana, citing inadequate health facilities, deteriorating roads, and the lack of public housing in many African countries as some of the effects of corruption.
“Corruption results in poor governance and weakened institutions, undermining their legitimacy by negatively impacting citizens’ perceptions of fairness,” she observed.
Madam Aba Oppong, a Representative of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly LANet, counseled eligible voters among them to resist any form of vote buying as young people aspiring to be leaders in future.
She also reminded them that it is an offense for persons below 18 years to vote and urged such people to stay away from the exercise on December 7 in their own interest.
They should always uphold the values of honesty, accountability, and integrity as young people and strive to be agents for change.