Women urged to lead fight against corruption through integrity and civic activism

Women have been urged to become agents of change in the fight against corruption by speaking up against unethical practices and promoting values of honesty, fairness, and transparency in their communities, workplaces, and families.

They have been recognised as possessing the power to influence ethical behaviour and strengthen accountability within society.

This call was made by Mr Moses Batong, Programmes Manager for SAVE-Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, during a civic engagement with women’s groups at Gwollu in the Sissala West District. The event focused on the rule of law and the fight against corruption in Ghana.

The engagement was organised by the Sissala West District Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as part of the “Strengthening the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption in Ghana” project under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme.

The PAIReD programme is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Finance, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Mr Batong explained that corruption undermines effective service delivery in education, health, and local governance, eroding public trust and slowing national development.

“Corruption erodes public trust, impedes development, and disproportionately affects women both in the formal and informal sectors of the economy,” he stated.

Mr Mustapha Iddrisu, Sissala West District Director of the NCCE, encouraged women to uphold the rule of law, noting that it guarantees fairness, justice, and societal stability. He reminded participants of their civic responsibilities, including paying taxes, obeying the law, and reporting acts of corruption and injustice.

He also took participants through legal frameworks such as the Whistleblowers Act and corruption reporting mechanisms, urging them to report such cases to institutions like the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Participants called for continuous civic education, empowerment of women in leadership, and stronger collaboration between citizens and anti-corruption agencies to sustain the fight against corruption.

The forum brought together about 50 women from various groups, including the Market Women Association, Christian Mothers Association, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Ghana, and Village Savings and Loans Associations, among others.