Be abreast with corruption laws

Takoradi, March 5, GNA - Institutions in the fight for the elimination of corruption, must be abreast with the various laws to make their campaigns and advocacy programmes effective.

Mrs. Florence Dennis, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), said this at a training programme for Community Based Organisations (CBO's) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the Western Region at Takoradi on Thursday.

She said the laws on corruption were so many and scattered in several acts of Parliament which makes its access difficult. Mrs. Dennis stressed that slogans on corruption has no effect on the fight against corruption unless a concerted effort was made to tackle and uproot it from the society.

"Corruption is a major societal challenge that must be overcome through a strong political will, to make the various interventions at poverty reduction and other social actions feasible". She said corruption could destroy the capacity of institutions in the performance of their duty, suspend the rule of law, destroy a country's democracy and undermine democracy in general.

Mrs. Dennis suggested that to make the fight against corruption effective, there is the need to intensify education about the freedom of information bill, responsible and free speech, code of conduct of public officials and politicians, professionalism, integrity and the declaration of assets by public office holders.

The Participants noted that the poor publicity about new laws makes it extremely impossible for most Ghanaians to know the latest and update their knowledge.

They therefore suggested that new laws should be made available to the public and the various district assemblies.