CHRAJ Votes GH¢ 65m To Fight Corruption

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has estimated GH¢65,240,000.00 for the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) under four major strategic objectives for the next ten years.

The estimates for the objectives are: to build public capacity to condemn and fight corruption and make its practices a high-risk, low-gain activity GH¢26,950,000.00 and GH¢21,375,000.00 to institutionalized efficiency, accountability and transparency in the public, private and not-for profit sectors.

Mr. Joseph Akanjoluer Whittal, CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Monday that GH¢5,300.000.00 is to be used to engage individuals, media and civil society organisations in the report and combat of corruption.

He said GH¢11,615,000.00 has been voted for the fourth objective which is to conduct effective investigations and prosecution of corrupt conduct.

NACAP is a comprehensive multi-sectorial anti-corruption action plan which aims to make the fight an integral part of the regular annual activities of public institutions. NACAP was developed, taking into account the limitations and shortcomings that characterized previous anti-corruption strategies.

'The control of corruption in Ghana should be the responsibility of each citizen; to join hands and tackle corruption in the country in order to secure and sustain the nation's development. 'Build public capacity to condemn and fight corruption and make its practice a high-risk, low-gain activity,' Mr. Whittal noted.

Mr. Whittal said the country must continue to pursue policies that ensure transparency and accountability in government decision-making, decentralisation, and accountability.

The CHRAJ Deputy Commissioner said: 'Ghana must address a number of key macro issues in the socio-economic, political and legal environments, which are crucial to achieving success in the fight against corruption.

Detailed strategy obtained by GNA indicates that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE); Ministry of Information and Media Relations and CHRAJ will spend GH¢50,000.00 to institute a national cultural review programme.

CHRAJ and Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF) will be allocated GH¢500,000.00 to organise regular public education and awareness programmes on the evils of corruption and the ethos of anti-corruption in MDAs, general public and private sector organisations.

CHRAJ and Ghana Integrity Initiatives (GII) to spend GH¢850,000.00 to organise public-for-community outreach clinics at the district level; and Legal Aid Board would be allocated one million Ghana cedis, to provide incentives including free legal services for public interest litigation.

CHRAJ, PEF, Ghana Education Service (GES), Ministry of Education (MOE) National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), are to spend one million Ghana cedis to mainstream anti-corruption, ethics and integrity in public, private sector, civil society and religious organisations.

Regional and District Coordinating Councils are to spend GH¢500,000.00 to institute a Whistle blowing mechanism at the district and regional levels; and NCCE would be allocated four million Ghana cedis to create civic awareness to enable the public to demand accountability from public officials.

Vice Chancellors, Principals and Heads of Higher institutions are to be allocated 150,000.00 to develop code of conduct for lecturers of tertiary institutions of higher learning.

The Ghana Journalists Association, the National Media Commission, GII and other Media establishments have been allocated a total of GH¢1,825,000.00 to undertake various anti-corruption activities. GNA