The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on authorities and individuals in positions of influence to ensure fairness and equal access to opportunities as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and public trust in governance systems.
The appeal was made during a civic education engagement held at Komenda Senior High Technical School in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality of the Central Region under the Civic Engagements on the Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption initiative.
The programme formed part of the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) initiative, which seeks to promote civic participation, accountability and integrity in governance systems across the country. The programme is supported by development partners including the European Union, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and Ghana’s Ministry of Finance.
Held on the theme, “Building Integrity: Understanding Corruption, Accountability, Influence Peddling, Rule of Law and Ethical Leadership,” the event focused on educating students about the importance of ethical conduct and responsible leadership.
Speaking to the media, the Head of Programmes for the KEEA Directorate of the NCCE, Daniel Abawana, stressed that fairness in the allocation of opportunities remains essential to national development and the fight against corruption.
He noted that when access to education, employment and other opportunities is determined by personal connections rather than merit, it erodes public confidence in institutions and undermines development efforts.
Mr Abawana explained that the engagement was designed to instil values of integrity, patriotism and accountability among students, whom he described as the future custodians of Ghana’s democratic and governance systems.
He encouraged the students to develop ethical leadership qualities rooted in honesty, responsibility and service to society rather than personal gain.
According to him, young people must resist the temptation to rely on bribery, favouritism and undue influence to secure opportunities and instead embrace due process and merit-based systems.
“Even when others are using unfair means, you must stand out and do what is right. Leadership is about integrity and service, not personal connections or shortcuts,” he advised.
Also addressing the students, the KEEA Municipal Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Eric Arthur Fynn, cautioned against corruption and influence peddling, describing them as serious threats to national development.
He warned that such practices, if tolerated at the student leadership level, could become entrenched and eventually manifest in broader national governance systems.
Mr Fynn urged students to reject bribery, manipulation and other unethical practices, emphasising that leadership should always be guided by service, fairness and accountability.
“Leadership is not about who you know or what you can get for yourself. It is about service, fairness and responsibility to others,” he said.
The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts by the NCCE and its partners to nurture a generation of ethical leaders committed to upholding the rule of law, accountability and integrity in both public and private life.
