Let’s rope the youth into fight against corruption

Every year, on December 9, anti-corruption champions and advocates take stock of their work and reflect on ways to better advocate ending corruption in all its ways and forms.

As usual, this year, the theme selected in commemorating the International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) is: Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.

The IACD was set aside by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to sensitise all internationally to the impact of corruption and the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in fighting and preventing it.  

This year’s commemoration, according to the UNODC, was used to draw attention to the important roles the youth have to play in the campaign against corruption.

The youth, apart from being in the educational sector, are also in trades cutting across all sectors of a country’s economy.

With their passion and earnestness for better lives, as well as their inquisitive minds, the youth have opportunities in asking questions and championing the changes needed in the fight against corruption.

This year, as the international community got together to commemorate the day, Ghana was sitting on tenterhooks, for the better part of the day, waiting for the announcement of the winner of the 2024  general election.

With the whole nation in the throes of expectancy of the announcement of the winner, the day escaped most government institutions.

We thank God that apart from pockets of conflict reported across the country, there were no major conflicts across the country.

However, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in a statement released in commemoration of the day, reminded the government of its social contracts on youth engagement and corruption, while campaigning and engaging with them, with commitments made by the incoming government covering a review of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Public Procurement Act 2003 (As Amended with Act 914),  to prevent conflict of interest and insider dealing by politically exposed persons in the award of contracts, the strengthening and enforcing of financial management practices and transactions to reduce corruption in the sports sector; and a review of the Computerised School Selection & Placement System (CSSPS).

According to the GII, in all, the incoming administration made 19 anti-corruption promises, 16 of which remotely impact the youth, with the above  three directly affecting the youth. 

The GII, therefore, urged the government to deliberately define roles and mobilise the youth around the defined role in the fight against corruption. 

With the review of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP 2), GII further urged the government to prioritise youth involvement in order to secure a generation of anti-corruption change agents and champions.  

GII also urged all partners to establish avenues for youth participation in anti-corruption activities to amplify and elevate the voice of young people in the fight against corruption.

It added that it would create a platform for the youth to hold the government accountable for their anti-corruption promises.

The Daily Graphic agrees with the GII on the President-elect’s commitment to the youth, and also urges the President to ensure a well-sensitised youth for them to fight against all manner of corruption across the country.

The advice for partners in the fight to give opportunities to the youth in the fight is also a good one.

With that, the Daily Graphic urges the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and other institutions to, in the next year, innovatively integrate the youth in campaigns and anti-corruption advocacy meetings.

We also urge the new government taking office in January to stay true to its commitments while it was campaigning and ensure that it walks the talk.