Mrs Betty Djokoto, the Headmistress of Wesley Girls High School, says the country needs leaders who will tell the truth about problems on the ground so that policies would not be far from realities.

Speaking on the topic: “Integrity and Hard Work - The Cornerstone of Nation Building,” at the 10th Annual Chief Justice Mentoring Programme in Accra, she said the country had lost its sense of integrity.

The 10th Annual Chief Justice Mentoring Programme was on the theme: “Mobilising for Ghana’s Future - The Rights, Duties and Obligation of a Responsible Youth.”

The programme attracted more than 200 people drawn from 17 senior high schools in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central and Upper East regions.

Some female porters (Kayayei) in Accra also took part in the mentoring programme. Participating students would have the opportunity to visit Parliament, interact with members of the Bench and Bar and take part in career counselling sessions.

Mrs Djokoto said some children who did not tell the truth were termed as being “smart” adding that if that practice was not condemned it could blossom into corrupt practices.

She cited exaggeration, false witness, and forgery as the foundation of corruption.

Mrs Djokoto admonished the students not to forget useful lessons about truthfulness and be consistent with what their schools stood for.

She entreated teachers not assist students in cheating in exams adding that with integrity, examination malpractices would become a thing of the past.

“Never take advantage to cheat. If you do that you are lying about your competence. Integrity brings about honesty, competence and hard work,” she said.  

Mr James Ebo Whyte, a Playwright, in an expose on the National Anthem and Pledge, urged the students to defend the good name of Ghana with their character.