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Sagnarigu, Ghana – The 2018 African Youth Day has been commemorated in 10 regions of Ghana with a call on the youth to join the discourse and debate on ending corruption in the country.
The fight against corruption over the years has been led largely by state and government machinery headed by adults who often perceive that the menace is perpetuated by the elite and political class.
The ability of young people (who constitute over 50 percent of the country’s population) to help in fighting corruption has not been adequately tapped by successive governments and this has led to continuous widespread corrupt practices involving many government appointees.
But the Municipal Chief Executive for Sagnarigu, Mariam Iddrisu, recognizing the youth as major stakeholders in the fight against corruption, urged them to understand it and be part of the solution by defining a role for themselves and actualizing that role.
Addressing a cross-section of participants at the day’s commemoration, she admitted that corruption and its attendant effects is a key inhibiting factor to the development of most countries in sub-sahara Africa including Ghana.
“According to a recent survey by ISSER, Ghana loses about fifteen billion Ghana cedis to corruption every year. This money could have been invested in national development to benefit the youth”, she observed.
November 1st has been proclaimed as African Youth Day. It is a day set aside by the Africa Union Commission every year to promote the increase recognition of the youth as key agents for social change, economic growth and sustainable development in all spheres of African society.
This year’s celebration which was organized by the National Youth Organisation was on the theme: “Raising Youth Voices Against Corruption in Africa”. It brought together 300 participants including persons with disabilities, students of tertiary and second cycle schools and various youth groups.
In a speech read for him, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Emmanuel Asigri, commended government on steps taken to deal with corruption citing the establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor.
He however joined calls by other progressive individuals and institutions on government to adequately resource the anti-corruption institutions in the country to effectively deal with individuals found culpable of corrupt practices and to make corruption unattractive.
He also called on the youth to become active advocates against corruption and to expose abuses and infractions in public financial management within their localities.
Mr. Asigri also urged the youth to stop the wrong use of ICT and social media tools, the abuse of illicit drugs and adopt positive and noble ideals such as patriotism, hard work, communalism, volunteerism, civility and respect for the elderly that will prepare and position them to take up the mantle of productive service in future.
Northern Regional Director of NYA, Ziblim Shaibu in his welcome address thanked the participants for accepting to come and participate in the celebration which also served as a learning platform for them.
He urged them to practice what they were to learn from various speakers on a panel discussion focused on corruption and effects on the development of the country.
By Savannahnewsonline.com/Philip Liebs
