Navrongo: The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has called upon students to embrace honesty and integrity in their everyday lives, emphasizing the importance of rejecting all forms of corruption as a critical component of Ghana's development.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Emmanuel Anafo, the Upper East Regional Focal Person of the GACC, urged students to maintain ethical conduct during anti-corruption engagements held at Navrongo Senior High School in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality and Kongo Senior High School in the Nabdam District. The events, organised in collaboration with TradeAID Integrated and supported by the Hewlett Foundation, were part of the African Union Anti-Corruption Day celebrations, themed 'Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa.'
Mr. Anafo encouraged students to become ambassadors of integrity by refusing to participate in corrupt practices and reporting any wrongdoing to the relevant authorities. He highlighted the importance of reporting corruption to institutions like the Police, traditional authorities, teachers, and other state agencies, stating that citizens have a responsibility to actively oppose corruption.
He pointed out that Ghana's natural resources have not resulted in the desired development due to the persistent drain on public resources caused by corruption. Mr. Anafo cited the Auditor-General's reports, which indicate that billions of Ghana cedis are lost annually through corrupt activities, thus presenting major accountability and transparency issues.
He cautioned against examination malpractice, identifying it as a prevalent form of dishonesty in schools, and urged students to complete their exams honestly to earn grades that reflect their true abilities. Mr. Anafo also challenged students to resist the temptation to cheat during exams, emphasizing the importance of conducting themselves with integrity.
School authorities expressed their appreciation to the GACC and its partners for their efforts in educating students about integrity and anti-corruption. They expressed hope that these engagements would contribute to nurturing responsible and ethical future leaders.