Muslims charged to educate members

Muslim leaders have been charged to propagate messages in the Quran that emphasize on good conduct, and educate the Muslim community against corruption.

The call was made when Muslim leaders took their turn at an engagement meeting of stakeholders organized by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in Bolgatanga.

It was also part of the Commission’s civil society collaboration on the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), when an earlier meeting was held with leaders of the Christian faith.

Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, said these messages could act on the minds of people to know and understand the implication of corruption and refrain from it.

He urged Muslim leaders to emphasize on the issue of corruption, which was endangering the nation and help people to resist acts of corruption.

Mr Charles Ayamdoo, Director of NACAP, gave a general overview of the institution, and said it has a strategic focus of building public capacity to condemn and fight corruption, engage individuals, media and civil society to report on corruption, among others.

He said all citizens have roles to play in developing strategies to address corruption, and uphold principles of transparency.

He highlighted some mechanisms for reporting corruption, and assured participants of the protection it provides for informants.

Ms Linda Ofori Kwafo, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti -Corruption Coalition (GACC), in a presentation, said faith-based institutions formed part of society, and their role in NACAP was essential in building corrupt free country.

She called on Muslim leaders to begin to create awareness on the subject matter, revisit the country’s value systems, and educate the people to live moral and upright lives.

She said the development of a code of conduct for Muslims was essential to help them live moral lives, and added that as civil society, their role in monitoring and evaluating NACAP performance was indispensable.

Ms Linda Ofori Kwafo observed that Muslim leaders wielded lots of respect and, therefore, their congregation would listen to them.