CENSODEV challenges women to speak out against corruption
NG-WALI seeks to empower women to identify, resist and report corrupt practices in Northern Ghana
The Centre for Social Mobilization and Sustainable Development (CENSODEV) has urged women to actively participate in the fight against corruption and speak out against the practice to promote national development.
The organisation said corruption had deep-rooted effects on society, denying citizens access to essential services and opportunities, while contributing to the embezzlement of public funds and undermining public trust.
The call was made at the launch of the Northern Ghana Women Anti-Corruption Initiative (NG-WALI), an initiative of CENSODEV, held at the Paga Town Football Park on Thursday, September 24.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of CENSODEV, Braimah Sanjage, said women often bore the heaviest burden of the effects of corruption, hence the need for the initiative.
He explained that NG-WALI seeks to equip women with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to identify, resist and report acts of corruption.
Sanjage said the initiative would also build a network of women by leveraging existing social audit committees in the Kassena-Nankana area to demand accountability in their communities and at the local governance level.
He called on the women to be bold and speak out against corruption.
“To the women gathered here today, this initiative is for you; it is your platform, your voice, your moment. Embrace it fully, learn to speak up and lead,” he said.
The District Chief Executive for the Kassena-Nankana West District, Stephen Aeke Akurugo, commended CENSODEV for its foresight and commitment to the development of women and communities.
He said the project was timely and had the potential to empower women to challenge the status quo and promote accountability.
“When a woman understands her rights and is empowered to speak out, she does not just transform herself. Women are custodians of values, and when they lead the charge for integrity, the message resonates everywhere,” he said.
Akurugo expressed the Assembly’s commitment to partnering with CENSODEV in the fight against corruption and urged the women to be bold and speak out against corrupt practices.
The programme also featured women anti-corruption champions from Burkina Faso, who shared their experiences in the fight against corruption.
The Burkina Faso representatives pledged their support for the initiative and expressed their readiness to collaborate with their Ghanaian counterparts to achieve greater impact in promoting accountability and integrity.
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