Parliament has launched the National Integrity Awards Scheme to honour individuals and institutions that consistently uphold the principles of national integrity and exemplary conduct indispensable to nation-building.
The scheme aims to recognise individuals, and in exceptional cases, institutions that demonstrate honesty and integrity in their areas of endeavour and those who lead by example in their personal and community existence.
It also seeks to enhance public trust in governance and public institutions, encourage higher standards of accountability and public service as well as support Ghana’s national, regional and international commitments on integrity and anti-corruption.
Beyond celebrating exemplary conduct, the scheme will also have a special category — the Vulture Award — to name and shame acts and conduct which brings shame or indignity to the moral or social fabric of the republic.
The initiative, which will be organised on the theme “Promoting integrity, celebrating ethical leadership and inspiring national development,” is being organised under the auspices of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
It will have a 20-member committee, chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice William A. Atuguba, that will consider nomination of persons and institutions whose names will be put forward to be recognised.
Integrity is indispensable
Delivering the keynote address at the launch of the scheme in Parliament yesterday, Mr Bagbin said Ghana must be a nation in which honesty was celebrated, ethical leadership was valued, accountability was a given and integrity was treated not as an ornament of public life but as its foundation.
The Speaker said integrity was not an abstract virtue but one of the essential building blocks of strong institutions, effective governance, social trust and sustainable national development.
He explained that where integrity was weak, institutions became fragile, public confidence eroded, corruption thrived and development was distorted.
In his view, where integrity was protected, institutions commanded respect, laws were interpreted and enforced justly, public resources were better managed and development became more inclusive and sustainable.
“When public officers, institutions, journalists, traditional authorities, faith leaders, business leaders, civil society leaders and citizens act with integrity, insist on truthful and honest conduct, and uphold accountability, they strengthen trust in governance.
“This is why integrity is indispensable to nation-building,” the Speaker said.
Honouring those who do right
Mr Bagbin pointed out that the launch of the awards scheme was taking place at a time when the demand for ethical leadership and accountable governance had become more urgent than ever.
Across the world, he said citizens were asking whether public power was still used for public good and should be trusted, whether public resources were being applied honestly and whether institutions were prudent and accountable.
He also said citizens were asking whether doing right was appreciated and encouraged and whether wrong was condemned and punished.
Acknowledging that Ghana had made significant progress under the Fourth Republic, he said the residue of decay, corruption, abuse of office, misuse of public resources, conflict of interest, weak enforcement of ethical standards and public cynicism continued to threaten confidence in governance.
“That is why Ghana must deliberately create systems and incentives that elevate integrity, celebrate ethical conduct and inspire public confidence.
“We cannot only condemn corruption, we must also honour integrity.
We cannot only punish wrongdoing; we must also celebrate rightfulness; we must recognise, appreciate and inspire those who choose the right path,” he said.
On the Vulture Award, the Speaker said the purpose of that award was not to substitute public accusation for lawful accountability but to draw responsible attention to conduct that undermined integrity, weakened institutions and damaged the moral health of the nation.
Let’s elevate scheme
Mr Bagbin said if the scheme was to succeed in its deeper purpose, it must not be seen as a Parliament project but a shared national undertaking.
He, therefore, appealed to the President and to all relevant national institutions to help elevate the scheme to the stature of most cherished national recognitions, such as Farmers Day and the National Best Teacher Awards Scheme.
Impartiality and transparency
Mr Justice Atuguba gave the assurance that the committee was fully committed to ensuring that every stage of the selection process would be conducted with professionalism, objectivity, impartiality and transparency.
The Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, said for too long, society had become accustomed to celebrating wealth without always asking how it was acquired.
“We have become fascinated by success without always enquiring into the character that produced it.
“Perhaps it is time we became equally intentional about celebrating those who quietly choose principle over convenience, honesty over gain, and duty over personal advantage,” he said.
