Integrity Clubs formed in selected schools in Upper East

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has formed Integrity Clubs in some selected basic schools in the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region.

This effort forms part of the activities under the “Transparency and Accountability for Higher Quality Education in West Africa (TAHQEWA) Project”.

The Project which is aimed at inculcating anti-corruption behaviours in pupils to help fight against corruption is being funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa( OSIWA) and its being implemented in three West African countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Niger.

In Ghana, the project is being implemented in schools across six districts, namely Asante Akyem South, in the Ashanti Region, Gomoa East, in the Central region, the Bolgatanga Municipal, in the Upper East Region, Assin South, in the Central Region, South Tongu, in the Volta Region and the Berekum District of the Brong Ahafo Region.

In the Upper East Region, the beneficiary schools are the Akantome Junior and the Sacred Heart Junior High Schools.

In all the selected schools in the country 12 clubs are to be established and its members are expected to become ambassadors in championing anti-corruption behaviours.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Bolgatanga on Monday, Mrs Mary Awelana Addah, Programmes Manager of GII, said the alarming rate of corruption and its effects on all aspects of the economy sector necessitated the implementation and introduction of the anti-corruption initiative.

She said it is an undeniable fact that there is the perception that corruption is a normal practice and considered a common occurrence by the Ghanaians hence the desire to find a lasting solution to it.

Mrs Addah said GII strongly believes that instilling the values of patriotism, accountability, transparency and integrity in a child was the surest way to tackle corruption.

She said the overall objective of the project was to promote a culture of zero tolerance for corruption in schools whilst instilling values such as integrity and patriotism in pupils, to trigger social demands for transparency and accountability in education systems.

Mrs Addah said to ensure the effective implementation of this activity, GII has partnered with the NCCE to facilitate the formation of the Integrity Clubs adding that under this activity, GII would highlight the values of integrity and anti-corruption as key factors needed for inculcating anti-corruption behaviour in pupils.

Mr Joseph Kweku Yeboa, the Deputy Regional Director of the NCCE, who made a presentation on the topic, “The Link Between Civic Responsibility and Integrity”, said the youth had a major role to contribute to national development and urged them to nurture traits of integrity and honesty in their lives.

Mr Philip Abore, the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, said the project would help inculcate good citizenry in the pupils as they grow and appealed to all stakeholders to support the implementation process.