Most rev. Philip Naameh, Madam Josephine Nkrumah, other representatives of faith based organizations including institutions in a group photograph after the launch of the “I-Shame Corruption In Ghana Campaign”
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in collaboration with other religious groups and organizations in the country, has launched an interfaith anti-corruption campaign targeted at children from basic schools.
The campaigned dubbed “I-SHAME Corruption in Ghana” will be implemented in basic schools throughout the country with the establishment of integrity clubs to influence the behavior of pupils against corruption now and in the future.
At the launch of the campaign, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Reverend Philip Naameh said children are the best people to change societal attitude towards corruption.
He said, children, being the future leaders, are those who when influenced early can help mitigate corrupt practices in society.
The chairperson for the National Commission on Civil Education, Madam Josephine Nkrumah, in an address said, fighting corruption must first start in our homes and with children.
“If we let our children know that corruption is bad and must not be entertained, they would grow up with that idea still in their minds to shape society.”
She added that children can also bring their parents to check if they are given the opportunity.
Hajia Ayishetu–kadiri, Chairperson of ‘FAITH IN GHANA,’ an acronym for the Inter-Religions Platform known as the “Forum For Actions On Inclusion, Transparency And Harmony, (FAITH) in an address said, two years ago, the National Catholic Secretariat made a clarion call for an inter-faith cooperation project, a moral intervention that will bring the greatest good to humanity.
“As a result, this noble initiative gave birth to FAITH.”
She noted that the FAITH platform is made up of various religious groups and faith based organizations such as the Office of the National Chief Imam,(ONCI), the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council(GPCC), the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission ,(AMM), the Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDAS), the Federation of Muslim Women’s Association in Ghana (FOMWAG )and the Christian Mothers Association(CMA).
She disclosed that Star Ghana is sponsoring the current project for a period of two years which will be used to sensitise pupils in selected basic schools in all the ten regions of the country.
Adding his voice, Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, executive secretary of CARITAS Ghana, and head of Department of Human Development in the National Catholic Secretariat said the “I- Shame Corruption in Ghana” will target pupils and teachers with a co-curricular mentoring programme towards reorienting their behavioral pattern against corruption.
Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
(lindatenyah@gmail.com)