Mr Cornelius Ahiekpor, the Wassa Amenfi West Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has motivated women to report corrupt practices that threatened their livelihoods and families.
According to him, taking that courageous step could help protect women’s rights, interests and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Mr Ahiekpor gave the advice at the Presbyterian Church in Asankragwa when he addressed over 100 participants from various women groups at an educational campaign for selected women in the municipality.
The event held on the theme: “Strengthen the Rule of Law, and the Fight Against Corruption” formed part of the project, “Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption.”
The project is an initiative under the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
It is being implemented by GIZ in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Ahiekpor emphasized that women played a vital role in Ghana’s socio-economic development as caregivers, entrepreneurs, traders, and community leaders.
Despite this, he said they still faced systematic barriers such as limited access to education, economic inequality, and underrepresentation in governance and decision-making positions, hindering their progress.
He said the objective of the programme was to empower women with the knowledge of their civic rights and responsibilities, legal protections, and reporting mechanisms, thereby equipping them to resist corruption, promote transparency, and actively participate in accountability processes.
Mr Ahiekpor further schooled the participants on their civil rights and duties as enshrined in Article 41 of the 1992 Constitution.
Mr Ebenezer Twum Ampofo, the Municipal Director of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, shed light on corruption, it’s effect on women, and the legal framework in place to protect them, including the Whistle-blowers Act and Right to Information Act.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliet Nkansah, Head of Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit in Wassa Amenfi West Division, on her part, provided comprehensive education on the Domestic Violence Act (Act 732) and the principles of the rule of law.
The event provided a platform for participants to share their experiences and propose solutions to enhance transparency and accountability in their respective communities.
Most of the participants applauded NCCE and its partners for the programme and urged them to replicate it in other communities by involving men as well.