In the fight against corruption, the local chapter of Transparency International (TI) Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has launched an anti-corruption training manual designed to equip faith-based religious leaders on corruption and its dangers.
The launch, which was done in Accra was followed by a training session to equip stakeholders which included pastors, imams, sheikhs and the media, who would in turn pass the lessons learnt on to their congregation and followers.
According to GII, its ‘anti-corruption ambassadors’ and faith-based organistions they are working with under the DANIDA support, will use the manual as a reference point believing the ambassadors will be able to conduct trainings at mosques and churches amongst others.
The manual covers modules including understanding corruption, legal framework for anti-corruption, anti-corruption strategies, the role of non-state actors under National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) and reporting corruption.
Speaking at the Launch, the Executive Director of GII, Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo revealed that, her organisation is doing its best to bring the anti-corruption training to many people in the country.
Adding that, “We realize that Ghanaians are very religious and about 90 per cent of either go to the mosque on Fridays or are at the Church on Sundays”.
Stating that, these people are the same that work in the public institutions, the private sector organizations, therefore believes and knows that, religious leaders are very influential people that, many people actually follow them and live by what they teach them, hence the importance of engaging them.
Speaking further, the Executive Director was of the view that, this will aid them, GII to reach many people with the anti-corruption message.
“We are trying to tell them what corruption is, what the negative impact is but then we have to actually acknowledge and recognise that the religious organisations and bodies provide a very big platform that we can actually use to get this message”, she acknowledged.
Under this project, which is supported by DANIDA called ‘Speak up, Resist, and Report Corruption’, she revealed that, they have been able to design a training manual and that they were training religious leaders on the use of them.
The aim of the manual she opined is to share knowledge, to build the capacity of key partners and empower citizens to speak up, resist and report corruption.
With objectives of soliciting the support of faith based religious leaders, civil society and the media in raising awareness and also to build the capacity of the faith based organisations and civil society organisations to report and address corruption as required.
Source: Ishmael Barfi
