Superintendent George Kwakye, the Wenchi District Police Commander in the Bono Region has urged the youth to leverage the WhistleBlower Act to contribute to the nationwide fight against corruption.
He said the youth ought to report the alleged misconduct and corrupt practices of public officials to give meaning to provisions in the Act 720, enacted to protect informants, and thereby encourage them to contribute their quota towards fighting corruption.
Supt. Kwakye said: “The youth must therefore report cases of corruption, as part of their civic duty to uphold integrity and justice in the public space”.
The police commander gave the advice when addressing some youth groups in the Wenchi Municipality at an educational campaign on corruption at Wenchi, organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE).
It was in line with the implementation of the NCCE’s “Civic engagement on the rule of law and the fight against corruption” project, co-founded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the European Union (EU).
The two-year project aimed at empowering young people with practical knowledge on the rule of law, civic rights and legal frameworks like the Whistleblower Act and their role in promoting transparency and accountability.
Supt. Kwakye said the Whistleblower Act remained a vital tool in combating corruption, unethical practices, and misconduct of public officials, inimical to national development.
Referencing the Bible, he quoted James 4:17, saying it was the moral responsibility for the youth to rise against corruption, reminding that “anyone who knows the right thing to do, but fails to do so commits a sin”.
“Have no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them,” Supt. Kwakye stated when he further referenced Ephesians 5:11 and urged the youth to stand against corruption aggressively and to promote transparency and accountability.
Supt. Kwakye said that “The Whistleblower Act is designed to encourage everybody to report wrongdoing or impropriety in the interest of the public”.
He added that “Act offers full protection to those who disclose information about unlawful, corrupt and unethical activities, shielding them from victimization or retaliation,” explaining that the Act played a critical role in the nation’s anti-corruption efforts.
It seeks to promote accountability, safeguard public resources, encourage civic participation, and foster transparency to build public trust in institutions.
Supt. Kwakye expressed concern that the fear of victimisation discouraged many people from reporting misconduct of public officials and called for intensified public education about the Whistleblower Act.