This year’s theme which is “Our Nation, Our Heritage: Consolidating Ghana’s Democratic Gains” is under “the National  Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP)/ Accountability , Rule of Law and Anti- Corruption Programme (ARAP)” being organised by the Commission.

The programme which is being sponsored by the European Union (EU) brought together security agencies including; the Ghana Police Service, the Immigration Service, Ghana Fire Service, Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division among others.

They were sensitised on how they could contribute to tackling corruption within the security services in the country. Speaking to the security personnel in Navrongo, Mr Pontius Pilate Apaabey Baba, the Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE explained that the Constitution Week Celebration was an annual programme of the Commission and formed part of the Commission’s flagship programmes which included; Project Citizen, E-quiz Constitution Game, Citizenship Week, Social Auditing, and Peace building.

He added that the Constitution Week Celebration was also instituted to commemorate the country’s return to constitutional democratic practice, and the process started with a referendum at which the Ghanaian electorate voted massively to adopt the draft Fourth Republican Constitution on April 28, 1992.

“This year marks twenty-five (25) years of uninterrupted constitutional rule in the 4th Republic and also twenty-five (25) years of the existence of the NCCE per the enabling Act 1993 ( Act 452). Twenty-five years of constitutional democratic rule is relatively young as compared to developed democracies. Ghanaians must therefore work hard to consolidate the fledgling democracy towards the common good.’’ The Regional Director stated.

He stated that it was imperative on the part of the Commission as part of its mandate to embark on series of sensitisation programmes to the people including; the security agencies to embrace the fundamentals of democracy.

Mr Baba mentioned the lack of transparency, accountability, citizens’ vigilance and participation among others as major factors of corruption and called on individuals and organisations to be accountable to their activities; accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner including; the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

He indicated that corruption thrived in an environment where accountability, transparency, citizens’ vigilance and participation were lacking and stressed that the presence of these principles could lead to the promotion of discipline, and ensure that state and organisational assets and finance were protected.

“There is the urgent need for workers at the various workplaces and citizens in general to be knowledgeable to be able to detect and to report shady deals to the appropriate authorities for sanctions to be meted out to offenders. It is important to note that corruption is a national or societal problem and it requires all to help to fight and eliminate or minimize it”. 

The stakeholders, who commended the efforts of the Commission and its sponsors, stated that the fight against corruption was faced with numerous challenges including; the lack of resources for anti-corruption agencies, lack of political will and the lack of confidence in these institutions and appealed to the government to adequately resource them to fight the canker.