The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has urged young people to reject all forms of corruption and uphold integrity to promote national development.

The Executive Secretary of the Coalition, Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh, said the fight against corruption required the active participation of every citizen, particularly the youth, whose decisions and actions today would shape Ghana’s future.

Mrs Narteh made the call in a statement yesterday to commemorate the 2026 African Anti-Corruption Day (AACD), observed under the theme: ‘Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa.’

“You are not only the leaders of tomorrow; you are the champions of integrity today and the driving force behind a more transparent and accountable future,” she stressed.

The theme calls on member states, anti-corruption agencies, civil society organisations, the media, academia, faith-based organisations, traditional authorities, political actors, the private sector and citizens to strengthen integrity-building measures as part of efforts to curb corruption across the continent.

Observed annually on July 11, the AACD seeks to raise awareness of the harmful effects of corruption and promote the implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, adopted in 2003.

Mrs Narteh said building societies founded on honesty, transparency and accountability required collective commitment from governments, institutions, communities and citizens.

“As we commemorate African Anti-Corruption Day 2026, let us renew our commitment to building a Ghana and an Africa where integrity thrives and corruption has no place,” she said.

“The fight against corruption is a shared responsibility that demands the active participation of all.

Every act of honesty, every decision to do what is right, and every effort to promote accountability bring us closer to the transparent, just and prosperous society we aspire to build,” she added.

Mrs Narteh noted that GACC had consistently prioritised young people in its anti-corruption campaigns, describing them as critical partners in promoting transparency and accountability.

She said through the Coalition’s Local Accountability Networks (LANets), more than 23,000 students were reached last year through integrity and anti-corruption sensitisation programmes in 40 districts across all 16 regions.

According to her, GACC will this year expand the initiative to 85 districts to equip more young people with the knowledge and skills to become advocates for integrity.

Mrs Narteh said a major highlight of this year’s commemoration would be the Capture Youth Voices Open Forum, which would provide young people with the opportunity to share how corruption affects their lives and aspirations while discussing practical ways of promoting accountability within their communities.

Coinciding with GACC’s 25^th anniversary, the forum is expected to reaffirm the Coalition’s commitment to ensuring that the voices of young people help shape Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts.

BY ABIGAIL ANNOH

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