NCCE TEMA METROPOLITAN OFFICE AND GIZ STRENGTHEN WOMEN’S ROLE IN COMBATING CORRUPTION AND DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY

Efforts to translate civic awareness into meaningful action against corruption received renewed attention in Tema, as women shared experiences of challenging improper demands, reporting suspected misconduct and seeking accountability in public service delivery. These accounts emerged during a follow-up engagement organised by the Tema Metropolitan Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) Programme.

The engagement, held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Community 1, Tema, brought together 40 women drawn from trading, entrepreneurship, dressmaking, beauty services, faith-based organisations and community groups. Building on an earlier intervention, the session examined the extent to which participants had applied their knowledge of corruption, the rule of law and accountability mechanisms. Discussions highlighted persistent concerns about unofficial payments, abuse of authority and barriers to accessing public services.

Addressing participants, the Tema West Municipal Director of the NCCE, who also oversees the Tema Metropolitan Office, Mr. Fidel N. A. Bortey, underscored the importance of citizen participation in strengthening institutional accountability. Describing corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, he challenged perceptions that reporting misconduct constitutes gossip or backbiting. He further discussed the Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), highlighting its relevance to the disclosure of wrongdoing and the legal protections available to whistleblowers.

The interactive discussions revealed instances in which participants had questioned inappropriate financial demands, reported suspected irregularities, and pursued concerns through relevant institutions. These experiences illustrated how sustained civic education could strengthen citizens' confidence to challenge practices previously accepted without question. A GIZ representative, Madam Mildred, reinforced this message, urging participants to resist the normalisation of bribery and utilise established mechanisms for reporting misconduct.

The engagement highlighted the importance of moving beyond knowledge acquisition towards sustained civic participation. It also reaffirmed the NCCE's commitment to strengthening women's capacity to demand transparency, challenge institutional misconduct and contribute to a culture of integrity and accountability.