Transparency International (TI) Ghana has held a one-day capacity-building workshop for civil society organizations (CSOs) and journalists to strengthen the rule of law and support the fight against corruption.
Speaking to reporters at Tap Hotel, Executive Director Mary Awelana Addah said the training focused on corruption, its gender dimensions, and the need for stronger advocacy at the community level.
The initiative is supported by GIZ through the European Union, the BMZ and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) under the PAIReD project, which seeks to enhance governance across all 16 regions of Ghana.
Ms. Addah said the workshop aims to empower CSOs and the media to serve as effective partners in promoting transparency and accountability in their districts.
“We are here to engage you on the need to promote accountability, mobilize our communities, and demand transparency while holding public officers accountable,” she said. “The fight against corruption has not been as successful as we want it to be.”
She noted that the session focused on explaining existing legal frameworks, the fundamentals of corruption, and how gender and corruption intersect. Participants also examined how individuals, CSOs and the media can contribute to mitigation strategies.
A major component of the training addressed sexual extortion (sextortion) and the need to create channels for reporting abuses.
“Sextortion is about power imbalance, and that imbalance results in the powerless suffering,” Addah said. “It affects both women and men, but many remain silent due to stigma.”
She warned that such abuses can cause emotional and psychological harm, erode workplace discipline and contribute to absenteeism.
“Exploitation is unconstitutional and culturally wrong. No one should have to exchange their body for employment,” she said.
The workshop included interactive sessions and plenary discussions on topics such as understanding corruption, gender-based corruption and sextortion.
TI Ghana says the initiative is part of broader efforts to equip local actors with the knowledge and tools needed to counter corruption nationwide.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz| Moses Azubire Anaba|Bolgatanga
