Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan research network that has provided reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life since 1999. Mrs Narteh said “The Afrobarometer is showing mistrust of citizens even for public office holders and appointees, and the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has shown that Ghana is stagnating in the fight against corruption”. 

In an interview the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the side-lines of a stakeholder’s sensitisation forum at Fiapre, near Sunyani, Mrs Narteh urged Ghanaians to play active roles in the fight against the canker to safeguard public purse. 

The GACC with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), European Union (EU) and the Swiss government organised the day’s forum. It was aimed at deepening the understanding of the public about the Office of the Prosecutor (OSP), the OSP law (Act 959), its mandate, and operational framework. The day’s sensitisation was attended by Assembly Members, chiefs and queens, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and civil society actors and organisations. 

Mrs Narteh said expressed concern about the existing gaps in citizens’ understanding in the work of the OSP and their role towards reporting corruption-related offences, hence the need to enlighten them on the OSP mandate. She emphasised that corruption remained inimical to progressive growth and sustainable development, saying the OSP required citizens to actively participate in fighting the canker. 

Mrs Narteh noted that successive governments had been unable to fight corruption, saying “We therefore have to do something different by empowering the citizenry to hold duty bearers accountable.” She said lack of political will and commitment from successive government had slowed down efforts in the nationwide fight against corruption, saying with the active citizens’ participation the OSP could do more for the nation to bring the canker to the barest minimum. 

Mrs Nartey stated citizens had to commit themselves more to the fight against corruption and entreated Ghanaians to channel the same energies they used to vote during General Election into checking politicians and public office holders against corruption.