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Ghana’s quest to nib corruption in the bud is on the crescendo, following a move by Faith- Based Organizations to take anti- graft campaign to basic schools across the country.
The initiative is purposed to influence the attitudes and behaviours of Children to abhor corruption and corruptible practices now and later in their adult life.
The campaign further seeks to push for the mainstreaming of anti-corruption subjects into the basic School curriculum of the Ghana Education Service as prescribed by the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan.
The programme is under the auspices of the Forum for Action on Inclusion, Transparency and Harmony (FAITH) and Christened, ‘Inter Faith Shaping Hearts, Attitudes and Mindset to End Corruption in Ghana (I- Shame Corruption in Ghana).’
Members of the Forum include the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, Office of the National Chief Imam, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, the Marshallan Relief and Development Services, The Federation of Muslim and the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council.
Addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, the Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo said the project is being implemented in collaboration with state institutional partners including the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and supported by STAR-Ghana.
The project, according to him, is targeted at the basic school system, explaining that the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) is the general framework for such intervention.
Touting the achievement of the project since its inception in March 2019, Mr Akologo informed journalists that, “as at November 2018, 3,105 were enrolled in our integrity club in 19 participating schools. Out of this total, there are 1,681 girls which represent 54% of the total.”
According to him, the group has developed a model curriculum of lessons on anti-corruption for school pupils titled, ‘Manual for Training Basic School children on Anti-Corruption.’
He indicated that a core group of 20 teachers have been trained as coordinators and facilitators of students learning on anti- corruption.
He added that “we have so far expanded our reach with anti – corruption messages to cover over 9000 audiences through our media engagements across all the regions in Ghana.
The 2018 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by transparency International which was released recently credited Ghana with marginal improvement after some years of consistent decline in performance rating on corruption.
“This must inspire all activists of anti- corruption in Ghana to remain engaged so that we can have a sustained positive outcome of consistent reduction in corruption in Ghana. Mr Akologo encouraged.
Mrs Cynthia Tagoe, Head of Legal Unit at the Ghana education Service said efforts are being made to inculcate Anti- corruption into the curriculum, as the current basic education curriculum is being reviewed.
Mrs Tagoe said, “We want to put the aspect of anti-corruption in the basic education curriculum; we have to abide by the NACAP.”
By Mohammed Suleman
