Sagnarigu: The Sagnarigu Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Northern Region has held a one-day engagement workshop aimed at empowering women groups in the municipality on the rule of law and combating corruption. The event was organized to enhance participants' understanding of their civic rights, legal protections, and available reporting mechanisms.
According to Ghana News Agency, the workshop, which was supported by GIZ and co-funded by the European Union (EU), gathered women from various associations, including those involving persons with disabilities, beauticians, hairdressers, and interfaith groups within the Sagnarigu Municipality. The initiative sought to enable the participants to resist corruption, promote transparency, and actively participate in accountability processes at the community level.
Mr. Abdulai Soale, Sagnarigu Municipal Director of NCCE, highlighted the crucial role women play in Ghana's socio-economic development as caregivers, traders, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. He noted that despite their significant contributions, women face systemic challenges such as limited access to education, economic inequality, and underrepresentation in governance. These challenges sometimes lead to their exposure to corruption and abuse of power in public service delivery.
In line with addressing these issues, Mr. Soale emphasized that the NCCE has prioritized identifiable women groups in its education campaign titled 'Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight against Corruption.' Participants were educated on key legislations, including the Domestic Violence Act (Act 732), the Right to Information Act, and the Whistleblowers Act.
Mr. Abdul Wahab Abdul Wasiu, Sagnarigu Municipal Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), addressed the importance of a strong rule of law. He asserted that without it, women's rights would remain unenforceable. He encouraged the women to report incidents of corruption, discrimination, or abuse through appropriate channels, assuring them of the commitment of state institutions like CHRAJ and the NCCE to promoting justice and accountability.
The workshop participants described the engagement as timely and impactful, noting that disunity among women groups often weakens their ability to hold duty-bearers accountable. They called for unity among women to advocate for their collective interests and the protection of other vulnerable groups in their communities.
The NCCE's ongoing civic education drive is part of broader national efforts to enhance transparency, good governance, and citizen participation in the fight against corruption.
