The Ghana Integrity Initiative is holding its maiden Annual Integrity School at the University of Professional Studies in Accra.

Delivering an opening remark at the launch of the school, the Executive Director of GII, Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo noted that the late arrival of some participating students for the launch goes contrary to the growth of their integrity. She therefore admonished them to uphold the act of punctuality as a virtue.

She expressed happiness that the GII has been able to finally kick off its Annual Integrity School. She said this is because “we are trying to bring up young people who will contribute to the fight. As we grow old, we need to mobilise a lot of support to be able to continue the advocacy on anti-corruption. You never know what you will become in future: Some of you may become commissioners at CHRAJ, Attorney General, they are all here. Some of you can even become the president of the Republic of Ghana.”

She mentioned that the youth as future leaders form a key component in the socio-economic development of the country, if well groomed.

She acknowledged that whilst Ghana has made strides in tackling corruption, the phenomenon remains a major challenge to the growth of the country. She said, this has made it necessary for the GII to identify the youth from tertiary institutions and build their capacities in order to create a generation of young anti-corruption crusaders.

Mrs Kwafo entreated the participating students to take full advantage of the school, in order to communicate effectively and contribute their quota to the fight against corruption.

The Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Mr. Richard Quayson, who was the keynote speaker of the launch said the current scene of gloom and hopelessness that has covered Ghanaian societies as a result of corruption is one that is not by accident.

He said the situation is as a result of the effects of some societal acts accumulated overtime.

“We are only harvesting what we have cultivated overtime. Corruption, indiscipline and lawlessness are not accidental. They don’t just happen. They are the products or by-products of the sum total of our thoughts, attitudes, mind-sets, upbringing, education, decisions and actions. Obviously, you cannot cultivate maize and expect that tomorrow you will go and harvest cocoa.”

He said the flourishing of corruption in the absence of integrity equally makes integrity the most effective weapon in combating corruption. He mentioned that no other substitute qualifies for the position of integrity, adding that an act to do the mentioned only passes as “throwing money after bad”, an act which is pretty much peculiar to the African continent of which Ghana forms a part.

“That indeed is what is happening to many African countries: pumping good money into education, healthcare, road, water energy agriculture but having little to show for.” He cautioned that the failure to break such a vicious cycle only spells doom for the future of the nation and future generations.
He therefore charged the participating students to peruse integrity to help turn around the fortunes of the country.

“I set before you integrity and corruption; honest living and dishonest living and I plead with you to choose integrity and honest living. So that Ghana may enjoy sustainable development and prosperity.”

The Integrity School forms part of GII’s 20th anniversary initiatives that seeks to promote integrity and anti-corruption behaviour amongst the youth. The maiden edition of the annual school is scheduled for two days starting today November 28, 2019. This year’s edition has 70 participating students drawn from selected second cycle and tertiary institutions.

Activities earmarked for the school include anti-corruption discussions, lectures, role plays, mentoring, coaching and debates.