The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), a non-profit civil organization focused on addressing corruption, held a community stakeholders forum with the people of Battor in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region to create awareness on the need for everyone’s involvement in the fight against corruption in the country.
Speaking at the forum, Mr. Bright Elikem Agbagba, the Volta Regional ALAC Officer; Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), said, GII is the Ghana Chapter of Transparency International (TI), the global non-governmental organization leading the fight against corruption.
According to him, one significant contribution of the citizenry to the fight against corruption is to speak up, resist and report any form of corruption.
He emphasized that, the 2010 Ghana Population Census report indicates that, about 90% of people who are involved in corruption are either Christians or Muslims. Out of this number, seventy five percent(75%) formed Christians and fifteen percent(15%) are Moslems.
He said, this worrisome situation led to the adoption of the National Anti-Coruption Action Plan (NaCAP), in 2014, which could enable all citizens to help in the fight against corruption in the country.
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“Although Parliament has approved this action plan, most of the citizens do not know what to do when it comes to fighting against corruption, meanwhile the National Anti-Coruption Action Plan (NaCAP) has given roles to everyone to play in the fight against corruption”, he added.
Mr. Agbagba further mentioned that The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) works in partnership with National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Chiefs, Clergy, Ghana Police Service among other individuals and organizations in the fight against corruption, and also train, educate the public and research on corruption related issues.
He further explained that, corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, and everyone must join hands with them in fighting corruption by reporting to the nearest Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (ALAC), an office established to address corruption related issues, or call the ALAC office on mtn 0800100250, 0800100250 airtel, 080010025 vodafone or WhatsApp them on 0577665295.
Togbe Agbekpo Asem IV, Chief of Mafi Traditional Area and the South Tongu District Director of Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), speaking to the media, said Ghana is not doing so well when it comes to the fight against corruption because the key institutions that are supposed to create awareness are not resourced to champion the campaign, and it’s very pathetic to see the increasing number of corruption cases in the country.
He encouraged the participants to report any form of corruption to his outfit because CHRAJ is an investigative body.
Hon. Richard Collins Arku, The North Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE) urged the participants to be very truthful in their daily activities and also help GII to fight against corruption because it’s a collective responsible.
Togbe Michael Godzo II from Kekpo said, one entity alone can not fight corruption, and therefore pleaded with the community members to speak up on corruption issues wherever they find themselves so that Battor and Ghana at large can move forward.
Listen to the audio from the programme.
Credit: Tabitha Kugbonu
