Twifo Praso (C/R), June 30, GNA - Mr Foster Joseph Andoh, Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District Chief Executive (DCE), said on Monday that the NDC government recognizes the fact that fighting corruption is the key to transforming the country into a middle-income economy.

He said the government would therefore not tolerate any acts of corruption among public officials, "whether within or out of government". In addition, it would resource state institutions and other civil society organizations that are committed to fighting the canker in the country.

Mr Andoh stated t his when he opened a two-day workshop on democracy and good governance under the theme "fighting corruption - a contribution to poverty reduction and the achievement of the millennium development goals in Ghana" at Twifo-Praso.

It is being organized by the Ghana Initiative International (GII) in conjunction with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and attended by 140 participants comprising assembly members, heads of department and chiefs from the district.

The DCE pointed out that "good governance would be a mere slogan when corruption reigns supreme in the nation," and tasked the media to expose the abuse and arbitrary use of power by public officials. He said the NDC does not perceive the media and other independent watchdogs as a threat, irrespective of how critical some of them might be to the government's performance, stressing that a free media was essential in promoting good governance and eradicating corruption. He added that government would collaborate with independent journalists and watchdog groups, since they are part of the machinery to combat corruption, but said it was imperative for the media to endeavour to be accountable and to observe its own code of ethics, so as to perform efficiently and impartially.

Mr Charles Nkrumah, Central Regional Director of the NCCE, said the workshop was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to enable them demand accountability of stewardship from those in leadership positions, and to become anti-corruption monitors and crusaders.

He expressed the hope that the participants would disseminate the knowledge they would acquire to other people in their offices and communities.

Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Programmes Manager of Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) said research indicates that corruption was a serious problem in Ghana and the world at large, and that there was the need for a political leadership that would be dedicated in the fight against the canker, and in the prosecution of persons found to be guilty of corruption no matter their political affiliation. 3