The Deputy Bono Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Peter Kwabena Gyasi, has stressed the need to empower young people with the knowledge and values required to demand accountability and promote ethical leadership in the country.
He said as potential future leaders, the youth must uphold integrity and actively resist corruption in both public and private life.
Mr Gyasi was speaking at a youth leadership empowerment dialogue organised by the NCCE in collaboration with the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani on Friday.
The programme, funded by GIZ and the European Union, brought together student leaders from various tertiary institutions in the Sunyani Municipality.
Mr Gyasi noted that corruption had eaten deep into the country’s value system and continued to retard development. He, therefore, urged young people to uphold integrity, ensure accountability and respect the rule of law.
He explained that the dialogue formed part of civic engagement activities on the rule of law and anti-corruption under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy programme.
Mr Gyasi said public accountability and respect for the rule of law were critical to consolidating democratic governance, adding that citizens’ demand for accountability remained essential in the fight against corruption.
He observed that although mechanisms existed to promote transparency and accountability, many young people had limited opportunities to engage critically on such issues and to appreciate the practical application of ethical leadership principles within their academic, professional and civic environments.
Delivering a presentation on conflict of interest and influence peddling, an official of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Johnson Tschagli, urged participants to familiarise themselves with the 1992 Constitution to build their capacity and avoid falling foul of the law.
He said Sections 179 (c) and (d) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), clearly spelt out the dos and don’ts on the subject, and urged the participants to uphold integrity in service to the nation.
Some participants also called on leaders, including traditional authorities and religious leaders, to demonstrate transparency and accountability, so as to serve as role models for the youth and positively influence their followers.
FROM DANIEL DZIRASAH, SUNYANI
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