Mr Osei Bonsu Aning, the Ashanti Regional Zonal Project Officer of Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has appealed to religious and faith-based organisations to take active part in the fight against corruption.

He said corruption had discouraged foreign direct investment and retarded national economic development.

There was, therefore, the need for all citizens, faith-based and civil society organisations (FBOs) to get on board the anti-corruption fight, he said.

Mr Aning made the call at a stakeholders’ forum jointly organised by the GII, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), National Commission on Civic Education and the FBOs to commemorate the 2019 Anti-Corruption Day celebration in Kumasi.

The forum, which was funded by DANIDA, was on the theme: “Religious Leaders United against Corruption.”

It was to raise awareness on cost of corruption on the country and mobilise citizens, mostly religious bodies, to support the fight against it.

It also created the platform to educate people on the use of Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre and how victims and witnesses could pursue their grievances.

Mr Aning said GII had intensified its advocacy campaign for behavioural change and the need for citizens to report corrupt practices in their communities to the appropriate bodies.

This, according to him, would significantly contribute towards building integrity and promote accountability.

Implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan positons Ghana as making progress in dealing with the menace.

Reverend Kojo Osei-Wusuh, Board Member of GII, and Madam Mercy Larbi, the Ashanti Regional CHRAJ Director, called on the clergy and religious leaders to preach on the devastating effects of corruption and report it to appropriate agencies.