Yawhima: The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has cautioned the public against the practice of giving gifts to public office holders and duty bearers.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Johnson Mawuli Tsagli, Bono Regional Administrator of CHRAJ, warned that giving gifts to public officials could lead to corruption and abuse of their offices. He shared this advice during a forum on corruption at Yawhima in the Sunyani Municipality of the Bono Region. The forum was organised by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC).
The event aimed to sensitise participants on corruption and its consequences for families, society, and the nation. It was attended by chiefs, queens, market women, traders, faith-based organisations, students, and anti-corruption actors and institutions. It was part of the 'Strengthening Accountability, Rule of Law and Institutional Responsiveness in Ghana' (SARIS) project.
The SARIS project, funded by the European Union (EU) in Ghana, is being implemented in 24 districts. It seeks to strengthen the watchdog role of civil society organisations and support advocacy for reforms to improve Ghana's integrity systems. The project is implemented by CDD-Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and Transparency International Ghana (TI Ghana).
Mr Tsagli highlighted that gifts could influence duty bearers and public officials in their decision-making and called on the public to support the fight against corruption by holding them accountable. He noted that anti-corruption agencies and the government alone could not tackle corruption's broader responsibility.
Mr Tsagli expressed concern about corrupt practices such as embezzlement, extortion, and conflict of interest, which deprived people of basic needs like potable drinking water, electricity, and educational and health facilities. He stressed the importance of every Ghanaian supporting the fight against corruption.
Miss Pamela Laourou, Assistant Communications Officer at the GACC, stated that corruption remained a serious societal issue that required a collective approach. She advised participants to implement the knowledge they had acquired in their localities to bring about positive change.