Tamale: A sensitisation campaign has been held to educate students on the impact of corruption and to encourage them to be actively involved in efforts to tackle the menace. The event, organised for teachers and pupils of Ridge Junior High School (JHS) Block A and Gbambaya T.I Ahmadiyya JHS in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region, formed part of activities to commemorate this year's African Union Anti-Corruption Day.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event was spearheaded by RUWA-Ghana as part of the Local Accountability Network (LANet) Tamale, under the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC). It was on the theme: 'Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations'. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the cost of corruption and the vital role of young people in demanding transparency and accountability.
Mr. Mashud Aziz Rauf, Executive Director of RUWA-Ghana and LANet Focal Person in Tamale, speaking during the campaign at the schools, emphasised that corruption continued to undermine national development, deepen inequality, and erode trust in public institutions. He quoted the 2023 Auditor-General's Report, revealing that Ghana lost over GHS11 billion to financial irregularities, resources that could have transformed sectors such as education, healthcare, and job creation.
Mr. Rauf highlighted that young people often suffered most from the effects of corruption, facing limited access to quality education and scarce job opportunities, which weakened their belief in public systems. He noted, 'Yet it is these same young people who hold the power to change the story. We must equip our youth with the knowledge, tools, and platforms to resist, reject, and report corruption wherever it manifests.'
He also called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, and civil society to rally behind young people and create a safe space for them to speak out against corruption. The campaigns formed part of a broader nationwide activity by the GACC to strengthen youth involvement in the anti-corruption movement.
Participants were sensitised on the role of the youth in fighting corruption and briefed on relevant legal frameworks including the Witness Protection Act and the Whistleblowers Act, 2006 (Act 720). Alhaji Ibrahim Baba Nassam Ibn Mustapha, Headmaster of Ridge JHS Block A, commended GACC and its partners for the initiative, stating, 'Corruption has contributed significantly to the underdevelopment of our country. Engaging young people on its repercussions is a step towards securing Ghana's future.'
Students also shared personal experiences of corruption in schools and communities and pledged to be ambassadors in the fight against the canker. African Union Anti-Corruption Day, observed annually on July 11, aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of corruption to build a continental movement for accountability and good governance.
