The persistent rise in corruption in Ghana, despite the existence of anti-corruption laws and institutions, highlights the urgent need to empower citizens to take an active role in combating the menace, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has said.

According to GII, citizen engagement is critical to enhancing the national fight against corruption, which continues to hinder the country's development and the efficient use of public resources.

Mr. Michael Boadi, Fundraising Manager at GII, emphasised that educating and empowering citizens to understand the damage corruption inflicts on national development is essential to effectively tackling the issue.

He was speaking at a two-day anti-corruption training workshop for citizen groups at Juaso, in the Asante-Akim South Municipality.

The training is part of a broader initiative under the project, "Strengthening Accountability, Rule of Law, and Institutional Responsiveness in Ghana", funded by the European Union (EU).

The project is being implemented in selected districts by GII in partnership with the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).

Participants included representatives from civil society organizations, youth and women groups, social auditing clubs, and persons with disabilities.

Mr. Boadi referenced findings from an Afrobarometer study, indicating that
greater citizen participation could reduce corruption.
He stressed the importance of mobilising citizens, building their capacity, and facilitating their engagement with duty bearers to demand transparency and accountability.

"Among all the strategies we have tried in fighting corruption, engaging citizens meaningfully is the one approach we have not fully explored," he said.
He further stated that, "Our goal is that after this training, participants will be empowered to hold public officials accountable and promote good governance in their communities."

Mr. Patrick Asare, a representative from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), which partnered with GII to organise the workshop, highlighted activities undertaken by the Social Auditing Club since the project's inception last year.

He commended participants for their dedication and encouraged them to lead by example in fostering a culture of transparency and integrity in their communities.