GII holds training on anti-corruption for religious leaders in Tarkwa
Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has organized a day’s sensitization training programme on anti-corruption for faith based organizations and religious leaders in Tarkwa.
The aim of the training was to strengthen the skills of the selected stakeholders in the fight against corruption.
It covered topics on GII’s interfaith project, the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) framework and what it seeks to do and the role of stakeholders.
Addressing participants, Mr Micheal Henchard Okai, project coordinator of GII, said NACAP recognized the role of religious leaders and faith based organization in the fight against corruption.
He said with funding from DANIDA, GII decided to extend the training programme to some districts and municipal assemblies in the country to curb the menace.
“We feel that once religious leaders and faith based organisations pick up this fight against corruption, it is midway won” he added.
He said the interfaith project was framed out of GII’s strategic objectives documented in GII’s current strategic plan.
Mr Okai noted that the project hoped to increase awareness and knowledge on corruption by 40 percent in five years.
He said in addition, GII would step up corruption reporting by 40 percent in the next five years.
GII strategic objectives are in responds to the problems identified by NACAP, which has hindered Ghana’s process towards controlling corruption, the coordinator reiterated.
He said activities that GII would embark on under the interfaith project would include developing a blue print for anti-corruption sensitization for religious leaders and their followers.
According to Mr. Okai, they would organize sensitization programmes for members of religious bodies and other stakeholders and also set up and run three Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres (ALAC).
Mr. Ernest Jarbeng, the Director for Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in Tarkwa Nsuaem commended GII for its commitment to fighting corruption.
“The fight against corruption is not a job for just an individual or an organization, everybody’s effort is needed to be able to battle corruption” he advised.
He said: “Corruption can never be eradicated but at least if it is reduced to the barest minimum, we can also benefit in terms of getting good drinking water, good roads and good education”
He implored the participants to use the knowledge they have acquired to shape their communities comprehensively.
Source: GNA