NCCE Intensifies Anti-Corruption Campaigns in Schools Under PAIReD Initiative

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has intensified anti-corruption and civic education campaigns in schools across Ghana as part of efforts to empower young people to uphold the rule of law, promote ethical leadership, and actively combat corruption.

The initiative forms part of the Participation, Accountability, and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) program, being implemented with support from the European Union and GIZ. The campaign aims to nurture students into ambassadors of transparency, accountability, and democratic participation.

As part of the outreach activities, the NCCE engaged students of Navrongo Senior High School in the Upper East Region on the dangers of corruption and the importance of integrity in national development. Officials from the NCCE and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) emphasized that the fight against corruption must begin at the grassroots and institutional levels.

According to the facilitators, corruption continues to undermine national development when young people tolerate acts such as examination malpractice, dishonesty, and other unethical behaviors. Students were therefore encouraged to cultivate integrity, discipline, and patriotism in their daily lives.

The educational sessions also focused on corruption-related concepts including conflict of interest, abuse of office, and influence peddling. Facilitators explained how personal interests can improperly influence official duties, resulting in nepotism, unfair recruitment practices, and erosion of public trust.

Students were further educated on the Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), and guided on how to safely report cases of corruption, embezzlement, and mismanagement of public resources to institutions such as CHRAJ, the Ghana Police Service, and school authorities. Facilitators highlighted protections available to whistleblowers, including security guarantees and access to the Whistleblowers Reward Fund.

The engagement received positive responses from students, many of whom pledged to reject bribery, obey school regulations, and discourage corrupt practices among their peers.

School authorities commended the initiative, noting that such civic education program's play a crucial role in nurturing responsible citizens while promoting patriotism, academic discipline, and social responsibility among students.