Accra, Aug. 19, GNA - A session of the Ghanaian youth on Wednesday teamed up to fight against violence among their peers and governmental corruption as a means to enhance the frontiers of justice and deepen the tenets of good governance.
The Youth, under the banner of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), Ghana Chapter, intends to use the power of an insightful documentary depicting the ills of bribery and corruption, violent behaviour of the youth, and hindrance to justice delivery to ignite social change.
Presenting the model documentary at the Third Annual Leadership Competition organised by YHRI in Accra, the youth from eight Senior High Schools within the Accra and Tema metropolis sought to use the crusade to promote and ensure respect for human rights in Ghana. Supporting the Youth Project, Mr Francis Emile Short, Commissioner of Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), noted that the level of corruption in the country was still unacceptably high. "Bribery, embezzlement of public funds, improper procurements process, and award of fraudulent contracts and violation of conflict of interest provisions are gradually becoming pervasive in the country's body-politic," Mr Short stated.
He said currently, the CHRAJ head office had received about 15 cases of allegations and complaints against public officials past and present of corruption and embezzlement of state funds. Mr Short said the Anti-Corruption Department of the CHRAJ had been tasked to work around the clock to investigate these cases to ensure that public officials were held accountable for corrupt practices in an effort to promote public accountability.
The CHRAJ Commissioner described corruption as a human rights and developmental issue, which undermine the confidence of the public in the administrative state and the advancement of human rights and upholding of high ethical standards.
Mr Short lauded the effort of the youth to team up and fight against social ills, stressing that "the fight against corruption requires the involvement and total commitment of a very vigilant populace and our youth have demonstrated this".
Ms Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, lauded the efforts of YHRI to build in the youth the spirit of constitutionalism and responsibility and leadership characteristics. She challenged the youth to broaden the scope of the crusade as corruption went beyond governmental perspective.
"It's a social canker that had filtered through every facet of life.and must be addressed holistically by both governmental and non-governmental bodies."
