Africa-Press – Ghana. The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Tema Metropolitan office, in collaboration with the GIZ German Cooperation, has organised a civic engagement on the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
The engagement, which is co-funded by the European Union, brought together representatives of identifiable artisan groups to discuss effects of corruption and how to fight it and uphold the rule of law.
Madam Gifty Agyeiwa Badu, the Tema Metro Director of the NCCE, gave a brief on the mandate of the commission, noting that it was established by the 1992 Constitution and an Act of Parliament, making the institution both a constitutional and governmental establishment.
Madam Badu indicated that the engagement was to provide a platform for the commission, facilitators and participants to deliberate on and agree on how best to ensure the rule of law prevailed and get the public to join in the fight against corruption.
She said it also formed part of the discharge of the NCCE’s mandate of creating awareness and educating the public on the 1992 Constitution and other important national issues.
She urged residents and citizens to take interest and monitor things that state monies are used for to ensure that there is value for money.
Madam Fati Mahami, the Tema Sub-Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), took participants through the work of the commission and encouraged them to contact CHRAJ with complaints on administrative issues, public fund embezzlement, and child maintenance issues, among others, stating that those that do not fall under their jurisdiction would be referred to appropriate institutions for redress.
Madam Mahami, touching on the rule of law, stated that all persons were equal before the law and thus are treated with the same measure irrespective of their social or political status, stressing that under the rule of law, arbitrary power does not apply.
She said corruption went beyond bribery to many other things people engage in to derive benefit from their positions, stressing, however, that with bribery, both the giver and the taker were all perceived to be corrupt, as the givers emboldened the takers to demand or take before discharging their duties.
She encouraged Ghanaians to report corrupt practices and officials instead of fuelling it, as it had untold effects, including a lack of development for the nation, and deprives others of their rightful positions and benefits.
She urged them to make use of provisions, including the Whistle Blowers Act and the Right to Information Act, to report and obtain information, respectively, on corrupt practices.
Mr Bob Amiteye, the founder of the AbibiNsroma Foundation, reiterated the need for Ghanaians to support the fight against corruption due to its dire effect on society and citizens.
Mr Amiteye further called on participants to be accountable and seek transparency from those in authority to ensure corruption was reduced drastically in the country.
Participants came up with many day-to-day activities that constitute corruption, such as overpricing, using position to extort monies from unsuspecting persons, exploiting patients, and inflation of service charges.
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