Kadjebi: The Kadjebi District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Oti Region has held a civic engagement with women groups in the district to empower them with knowledge on the rule of law and the fight against corruption.
According to Ghana News Agency, the programme, held under the theme: 'Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption', brought together 60 women, including queen mothers, market women, hairdressers, dressmakers, and apprentices at Kadjebi. Ms. Delight Ama Serwaa Akey, Principal Civic Education Officer of the NCCE, said the initiative was aimed at increasing public awareness-especially among women-on anti-corruption laws, civic responsibility, and legal protections under the Whistleblowers Act.
She noted that many women, especially those working in the informal sector, interact regularly with public systems and officials but often lack access to civic education, making them more vulnerable to corrupt practices and unaware of accountability mechanisms. "Empowering women with knowledge of their rights helps them speak out against wrongdoing without fear of retaliation and fosters a stronger sense of civic duty," Ms. Akey said. She urged the participants to become active partners in the national fight against corruption, stressing that the battle must be waged holistically and across all sectors.
Madam Emma Asilevi Zottor, a member of the Local Accountability Network (LANet) and the Girl-Child Education Officer of the Ghana Education Service in the district, said corruption disproportionately affects women, exacerbating existing social and economic inequalities. "Women experience corruption differently than men, especially in accessing public services, facing sexual exploitation, and navigating barriers to economic empowerment," she said. Madam Asilevi cited the Domestic Violence Act, sexual harassment laws, and equal rights legislation as key legal protections available to women, urging them to take advantage of these mechanisms to safeguard their rights. She encouraged the participants to serve as agents of change in their communities by promoting transparency and accountability.
Nana Afua Nyarkoa II, Paramount Queenmother of the Dodo Traditional Area, commended the NCCE for the initiative and called for similar engagements to be organised for traditional leaders to deepen community-wide participation in anti-corruption efforts. The project is being implemented by the NCCE in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), co-funded by the European Union (EU), and commissioned by BMZ and SECO.
