Mr Michael Boadi, Fund Raising Manager, GII, said the leaders had the mandate to help trigger consciences on bribery and corruption to the effect of exposing duty bearers who disregarded public interest for personal gain.

 He was speaking at a workshop for religious leaders from the Western and Volta Regions in Ho.

 Mr Biadi said bribes, most often disguised as gifts continued to smear the integrity of people in authority, therefore all must be wary of tokens and favours.

Mr Boadi said the GII had realised the need to localise anti-corruption programmes, and appealed to the leaders to infuse more anti corruption sensitisation into religious programming.

He said low public participation in the development and implementation of anti corruption measures had been identified as one of the factors shifting the goalposts of the National Anti Corruption Action Plan.

Mr Boadi said whiles anti corruption measures lacked sustained coordination, inadequate capacity of religious bodies and institutions to effectively play their role was also found to be persistent, hence the Inter faith project of GII requiring religious leaders to formulate local anti corruption initiatives.

He assured that the Organisation would offer the necessary support including capacity building and would help establish national anti corruption ambassadors.

 Mr Boadi said religious bodies could help the GII meet its target of a 40 per cent increase in corruption awareness within the next five years, and asked citizens to live by the rules so as to avoid brushes with the law.

 Participants at the workshop noted that Ghanaian culture did not promote corruption, and pledged to help build a society based on principles of fairness and accountability.

 Alhaji Alfa Anas Hamidu, Acting Volta Regional Chief Imam, promised to meet all stakeholders within the Islamic community in the Region towards planning sensitisation programmes to promote behavioural change.