The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) has organised a symposium on accountability and the rule of law for students of the Bagabaga College of Education, to educate them on their responsibilities in the response against corruption.
Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani, the Northern Regional Director of the NCCE, said there was support from the European Union to educate students of 12 tertiary institutions in the country, and indicated that the Tamale and Bagabaga College of Education were institutions selected from the Northern region.
He said it was necessary to educate the citizens, especially students on the effects of corruption and how to tackle them, and indicated that Ghana loses huge sums to corruption and related acts, whereas such amounts could be directed to development projects.
Mr Stephen Azantilow, the Northern Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) who took the students through legal regimes of corruption, said the most harmful effect of corruption on an individual was its effects on human rights.
He advised them to be responsible public servants after school, to be punctual to work and to desist from allowing their conducts to be influenced by gifts, given that, corruption was not just about money and politicians.
Mr Samuel Asare Akuamoah, Deputy Chairman of the NCCE in charge of operations, cautioned the students against practices that could intensify conflict in an attempt to respond to corruption. “Fight corruption responsibly and be circumspect about actions that are likely to cause conflicts while trying to be a whistleblower” he reiterated.
He educated the participants on the forthcoming referendum and the district level elections and urged them to actively participate, adding that understanding what the referendum means would make citizens appreciate the implications of their response as voters to the nation.
Madam Florence Kazi, the Dean of Students of the Bagabaga College of Education expressed appreciation to the NCCE for the education given to the students and assured the organisers that management of the college would encourage the students to be ambassadors for Anti-Corruption.
By Rosemary Wayo, GNA
