Nabdam: The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Nabdam District has held a civic engagement session to empower women's groups with the knowledge and skills needed to fight corruption and promote the rule of law in their communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event brought together 60 women, including dressmakers, hairdressers, traders, and representatives of faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as young women from the informal sector. The engagement formed part of a nationwide initiative under the project 'Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption,' being implemented by the NCCE with funding support from GIZ and co-funded by the European Union (EU).
Mr. Joachim Elbazar, the Nabdam District Director of the NCCE, in a welcome address, acknowledged women as critical actors in local development, noting that they served as caregivers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders whose efforts drive the socio-economic progress of the Nabdam District. He expressed concern that women continued to face systemic barriers such as limited access to education, economic inequality, and underrepresentation in governance and decision-making spaces, which increased their vulnerability to corruption and abuse of power.
He explained that corruption, defined as the abuse of trusted power for private gain, disproportionately affects women. Market women may face extortion through illegal levies, young women may encounter sexual harassment in exchange for services, and mothers may be compelled to pay bribes to access healthcare and education. These experiences undermine women's dignity and perpetuate poverty and inequality. He emphasized that the rule of law requires all persons and institutions to be accountable to just laws that are fairly enforced and independently adjudicated.
Mr. Elbazar stated that strengthening women's understanding of their civic rights, legal protections, and available reporting mechanisms is crucial to building resilient communities that can resist corruption and injustice. "Our engagement with women's groups today seeks to empower participants with knowledge about their civic rights and responsibilities, and equip them to resist corruption, promote transparency, and actively engage in accountability processes," Mr. Elbazar stated.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joseph Salifu, the Nabdam District Police Commander, presented on 'Rule of Law and Women's Rights' and 'Corruption and Women's Vulnerability,' emphasizing the importance of integrity in both public service and community life. He noted that transparency and accountability are key to national development and urged the women to uphold honesty and transparency in their daily dealings and to serve as watchdogs in their various sectors.
Madam Patricia A. Ayichuru, the Nabdam District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), delivered on 'Civic Responsibility under the 1992 Constitution' and 'Legal Protection and Reporting Mechanisms,' calling on the women to be patriotic citizens. She explained that relevant legal frameworks such as the Whistleblower Act, the Right to Information Act, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act are meant to tackle corruption, but that can only be achieved when citizens take decisive steps to explore and make good use of them by reporting related crimes. She encouraged the participants to develop the habit of reporting cases of abuse, corruption, or rights violations without fear, assuring them of CHRAJ's commitment to protecting whistleblowers and victims of injustice.
