Rosina Owoo, the Oforikrom Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has said that corruption remains one of the greatest obstacles to Ghana’s socio-economic development which requires collective efforts to curb the menace.

She made the remarks during a youth engagement programme on the “Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption” organised by the NCCE Oforikrom Municipal Directorate, with support from GIZ and the European Union (EU).

The programme brought together 50 selected youth from the municipality to equip them with practical knowledge on the rule of law, civic rights, and legal frameworks that promote accountability and transparency.

Ms. Owoo noted that despite several attempts by successive governments to eliminate it, corruption continues to cripple development efforts.

“Corruption has a ripple effect on our economy and society. It denies citizens access to quality education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other essential services, she stated.

She outlined common forms of corruption such as bribery, nepotism, embezzlement, extortion, facilitation payments, and fraud, cautioning participants to avoid engaging in such practices.

Ms. Owoo stressed that combating corruption requires grassroots involvement and urged young people to be ambassadors of transparency within their communities.

She urged the youth to rise to the challenge by rejecting corrupt acts and holding leaders accountable.

Chief Superintendent Fred Hammond, KNUST Divisional Police Commander, urged the youth to balance their civic rights with their civic responsibilities as enshrined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

He reminded participants that while Articles 12 to 30 guarantee rights such as the right to life, personal liberty, and freedom of speech, citizens are equally obliged to fulfill their duties, including paying taxes, reporting crimes, protecting the environment, and respecting the laws of the land.

The Commander encouraged the youth to help prevent crime by reporting wrongdoing in their communities, providing anonymous tips, or sharing evidence with the police.

Mr. Charles Alex Quainoo, Chief Investigator at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in the Ashanti Region, educated participants on the Whistleblowers Act (Act 720), describing it as a powerful tool in the fight against corruption.

He explained that the Act, passed in 2006, empowers citizens to disclose acts of impropriety before, during, or after they occur, and guarantees protection for whistleblowers against victimization by employers or other individuals.