CHRAJ, NCCE and NSS equip university leaders with tools to fight corruption and promote ethical leadership
The fight against corruption and abuse of power must begin with a generation of leaders who understand not only the responsibilities that come with authority, but also the ethical boundaries within which that authority must be exercised.
This was the consensus at an engagement organised by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the National Service Secretariat (NSS) for young leaders from various universities.
The engagement focused on ethical leadership, good governance, corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of power and institutional decision-making.
Held at the Catholic University of Ghana in Accra, the programme sought to equip student leaders with the knowledge, values and practical understanding needed to promote accountability and responsible leadership within their universities and, ultimately, in public office and other positions of responsibility they may occupy in the future.
The event was organised in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the European Union (EU) under the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for Enhanced programme.
Participants included student leaders from 11 universities.
Delivering the first presentation, which focused on “the qualities and responsibilities of effective leadership”, the Regional Director of the National Service Secretariat, Mr Robert Nii Laryea Kuma Adjei, challenged participants to look beyond leadership as merely occupying a position of authority.
He emphasised the importance of influence, trust and positive impact, saying leadership should not be measured simply by the number of people who obey a leader, but by the positive influence that leader has on those who follow.
Corruption and abuse of power
The Madina Municipal Director of CHRAJ, Mr Johnson Ato Breboh, subsequently led a detailed presentation on corruption, conflict of interest and institutional decision-making.
He explained CHRAJ’s constitutional mandate to promote accountability, investigate alleged corruption and provide avenues for redress.
Mr Breboh took participants through various forms and manifestations of corruption, explaining how corruption can intersect with conflict of interest, abuse of discretion and institutional decision-making.
Referencing relevant provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including Articles 23, 284 to 288 and 296, he stressed that decisions taken by public institutions and persons exercising public authority must be consistent with the principles of fairness, reasonableness and administrative justice.
He also explained the constitutional requirements concerning the declaration of assets and liabilities by public officers, noting that such mechanisms were intended to promote transparency and accountability in public service.
The discussion brought the issue closer to participants’ everyday experiences by demonstrating that corruption is not merely a national or governmental problem. It can also manifest in routine institutional decisions, particularly when individuals misuse positions of authority for personal gain.
The presentation generated a lively question-and-answer session, with participants raising practical concerns about corruption, inequality and institutional accountability.
During an open forum, one participant asked what young leaders should do when they encounter leaders engaging in corrupt practices.
In response, Mr Breboh said young people were not powerless in such situations. He encouraged them to use institutions established to receive complaints and investigate wrongdoing, including CHRAJ and other relevant state institutions.
He also drew attention to the Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), which provides a legal framework for the disclosure of impropriety and includes protections intended to safeguard whistleblowers from victimisation.
Access to justice
Another participant raised concerns about the perception that Ghana’s laws sometimes work more effectively for wealthy people than for the less privileged.
The Regional Director of the NCCE, Mr Frederick Mawuli Agbenu, acknowledged the concern as a serious one and explained that disparities in access to legal representation and other resources could contribute to the perception that the justice system favours those with greater financial means.
The exchange highlighted an important dimension of good governance: that the rule of law must not merely exist on paper, but citizens must also be able to access justice and exercise their rights regardless of their economic circumstances.
A member of the CHRAJ delegation also asked the NSS Regional Director what measures were being taken to address scams and hold perpetrators accountable.
In response, the Regional Director acknowledged that such challenges required institutional collaboration and could not be effectively addressed by an individual or institution acting alone.
He stressed the need for institutions responsible for monitoring and regulating such activities to act proactively to protect members of the public.
One of the thought-provoking questions came from a representative of the University of Ghana Student Representative Council, who asked whether financial difficulties faced by some public officers could justify their involvement in corrupt practices.
Mr Breboh acknowledged that financial hardship could create temptation, but firmly rejected the suggestion that it could justify corruption.