The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has engineered a campaign targeting the younger generation in a bid to curb corrupt practices.
The campaign saw officials of the Ho Chapter of the Local Accountability Networks (LANets) engage learners and educated them on the need to desist from corrupt acts, act as whistleblowers and report people identified to engage in corruption to the appropriate authorities.
This forms part of the activities to commemorate the African Union Anti-Corruption Day themed “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”
The officials visited the Heve and Mawuli E.P Basic Schools during an outreach, hoping to build a generation that would not be interested in engaging in corruption, and ensure resources are channeled to right sources
The outreach was in alignment with the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition’s (GACC) mission to educate and empower young people about anti-corruption-related issues with funding support from the Hewlett Foundation and facilitated by the Africa Disability Institute.
A member of the LANet team, Madam Francisca Afanyede, conducted an interactive session with the learners and highlighted behaviors such as stealing school property, examination malpractice, and dishonesty as examples of corruption.
She entreated the learners to desist from such acts urging them to report their peers who engage in such for rebuking adding that “preventing these minor acts of corruption contributes to building a responsible and accountable society.”
Speaking to Myjoyonline.com, a Member of LANet, George Asilevi, explained that the initiative was to help the learners identify the effects of corruption on society and its members.
He said it was imperative to focus on the young ones since it would be easier nurturing and directing them on the right path, unlike the grown-ups.
Mr. Asilevi added that imbibing the values of staying away from corruption and reporting acts would help reduce the repercussions of dishonest and fraudulent conduct.
“Our objective of being here today is just simply to catch the young ones very very young and to tell
them about corruption, the basics of corruption, what it does, its effects on society, and themselves.
“We aim to create awareness in them, so that when they see any corruption going on, they can become whistleblowers and inform necessary authorities about what is happening so that repercussions may not be too great on them in the future”, he said.
Mr. Asilevi expressed worry at the state of corruption in the country and how it had robbed it of the resources targeted at human and physical development.
“Corruption is taking a lot of resources from Ghana, acquisition of the basic amenities that our children will enjoy is being decapitated so much so that the impact is greatly felt”, he lamented.
He lauded the satisfactory conduct of the learners and the exhibition of keen interest in the subject matter during the outreach.
The Assistant Head of the Heve Basic School, Angela Morkey described the briefing as educative adding that school authorities would intensify regulations to avoid corruption.
“As a school, we are also doing our part in such a way that we are not corrupt. Some of them
who were caught cheating during examinations are made to face the disciplinary committee and were duly punished. Since they come to remind us, we will put in much effort so that corruption will be avoided in our school”, she stressed.
“Educating pupils on corruption-related action is good, as they are young like this, some of them are on their own and not under supervision by anyone and can do anything which can give them quick money”, said the Headmaster of Mawuli E.P. Basic School.