Report By: Ishmael Barfi
As Ghana prepares for its 2024 elections, Mrs. Mary Addah, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has sounded a clarion call for collective action against corruption.
Speaking at the Anti-Corruption Forum in Accra, Mrs. Addah emphasized the urgent need for Ghanaians and leaders to join forces and sign the “Pledge Against Corruption” ¹.
Key Reforms advocated by the Pledge include the Passage and Enforcement of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill aimed to ensure ethical conduct within the public sector through asset declaration, conflict of interest provisions, and a gift policy.
Furthermore, Transparency in Public Procurement, hence addressing procurement irregularities, which account for nearly 85% of corruption cases, by adhering to Ghana’s procurement guidelines and enhancing oversight.
In addition, the Pledge aims to ensure Constitutional Review thus reducing excessive power concentrated in the executive branch to allow appointees greater independence as well advocating for reforms in Political Party and Campaign Financing Laws aimed to promote transparency in candidate fundraising to prevent corruption.
For the above to effective, Mrs. Addah stressed that citizens must actively hold leaders accountable, as signing pledges alone is insufficient.
“If we as citizens take this pledge, it empowers us to demand real change,” she stated. The Pledge Against Corruption initiative urges citizens and candidates to commit to a transparent political financing structure.
A National Effort
Mrs. Addah made it clear that the Pledge Against Corruption is a call for all Ghanaians. She encouraged citizens to take ownership of the fight, emphasizing that lasting change requires widespread public commitment. “Corruption affects every one of us, and it will take all of us to tackle it effectively,” she concluded.
The Ghana Integrity Initiative, established in 1999, is a non-partisan, non-profit civil organization focused on addressing corruption. As the local chapter of Transparency International, GII has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption in Ghana.
As the 2024 elections approach, the Ghana Integrity Initiative and its partners hope that these pledges will shape a future where Ghana’s leadership prioritizes transparency, ethical governance, and the public interest over private gain.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
