Fighting corruption must start from homes - Mrs Fleischer

Mrs Baaba Brew Fleischer, an anti-corruption campaigner has stated that engagement with individual homes on anti- corruption issues was necessary in helping to eliminate the canker in society.

She noted that despite the perception that corruption was the preserve of politicians and people who occupied high positions, the practice thrived more in individual homes and had subsequently affected larger societies.

Speaking at a durbar organised by the Local Anti-Corruption Network (LANET), Cape Coast chapter, Mrs Fleischer condemned the practice where couples, children and family members demanded tips and gifts before performing any task for each other.

She cited such practices and many others of similar nature which were prevalent in most Ghanaian homes as contributory factors to the high incident of corruption.

The durbar, aimed at creating awareness on corruption issues in the country brought together key stakeholders such as chiefs, religious groups, civil society organisations (CSOs) and community members.

The participants discussed the various socio-economic practices that hindered the fight against corruption as well as health and educational issues in the Cape Coast Metropolis.

Mrs Fleischer, who is also the President of LANET, Cape Coast chapter indicated that valuable goods in the form of gifts, favours and promises were tools used in corrupt practices and should be discouraged.

She said the fight against corruption was not the duty of an individual, institution or government but the collective responsibility of all Ghanaians and called on the citizenry to assist the Government by reporting all corrupt acts to the appropriate institutions for action to be taken against the perpetrators.

The participants raised concerns about the lack of security and protection at the various basic schools in the Cape Coast metropolis which gave criminals opportunity to invade the campuses to steal valuable items.

They appealed to the Ghana Education Service to employ security men to at least guard the schools at night.