Panelists at the National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) second National Dialogue on Anti-Corruption, Rule of Law and Accountabilty have called for severe punishment for public officials who engage in corruption and abuse of office.
Speaking on the issue of Public Accountabilty and Abuse of office, the panelists unanimously resolved that strict enforcement of the laws on corruption will save the country millions of cedis lost through the canker.
The Chairperson of the NCCE, Josephine Nkrumah who set the ball rolling for the panel discussion said Ghanaians should view the fight against corruption and abuse of public office as a shared responsibility.
Sharing their views on a study by the NCCE on public Opinion on Corruption, Accountability and Environmental Governance, the panelists were emphatic that corruption is no longer a perception but a reality which has become endemic and increasing at an alarming rate.
The Auditor General Daniel Domelevo, the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Professor Stephen Adei and a lawyer with the CDD, Clara Beeri Kasser -Tee, who welcome any attempt to review anti-corruption laws however, stressed the need for effective enforcement of the existing ones to make the canker unprofitable and inexpensive for public officials.
The Head of the European Union, (EU) Mission to Ghana, Diana Acconcia, acknowledged the studies being made in the fight against corruption through the digitisation of the economy, but said a lot more still needs to be done.
She said the NCCE can continue to count on the support of the EU in anti-corruption public education.
