Developed with support from partners, including GIZ and Global Compact Network Germany, would connect businesses with potential business partners and exchange experience about compliance in a global network of like-minded.

Large enterprises would be able to access the compliance capacities of potential suppliers, which were listed on the application and consider them during the selection of potential business partners.

The IntegrityApp mobile application would enable companies to evaluate its operations through a set of questionnaires and improve compliance capacities of firms in its supply chain.

Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, Minister of Business Development, who launched the application, noted that, issues like the lack of integrity could derail the country’s potential to economically excel if not handled with care.

The App launch was a kick-off event of a two-day training for businesses on Responsible Business and Integrity organised by the Alliance for Integrity and the Global Compact Network Germany.

He said doing business with integrity, respecting human rights and fostering corporate sustainability were relevant for the growth and development of businesses as well as the economy.

The Minister remarked that the country was focused on ensuring good corporate governance and good corporate citizenship as well as instilling ethical standards in all state and private institutions.

“This is the only way we can achieve our quest for foreign directive investment and remarkable socio-economic growth, as trust and issues about reputation are important elements of business and governance.

“As a government, we have taken the topic of anti-corruption very seriously, and as a giant step towards that, the governing board of the special prosecutor has been sworn into office following the creation of the office,” he said.

Dr Awal stated that government had launched the National Public Sector Reform Strategy, as part of efforts to strengthen the public sector service to deliver more superior services to the citizens and the private sector.

Mr Christian Widmann, Acting Country Director, GIZ Ghana, said the fight against corruption was not the task of the public sector alone, but needed a multi-stakeholder approach and commended Ghana’s determination to include the whole society in its anti-corruption measures.

He said the GIZ was supporting initiatives, including the Alliance for Integrity and the Global Compact Network of Germany, and it’s aimed at fostering responsible business conduct and integrity in the private sector.

“Germany supports the approach of the two initiatives to business-driven, which means to have a special focus on the private sector. This does not only include big companies but also support to small and medium-sized enterprises in developing compliance management systems and measures for responsible business conduct,” he said.

Madam Susan Friedrich, Director Alliance for Integrity said with global trade becoming complex, and semi-finished goods accounting for up to two-thirds of traded goods, strengthening capacities along the supply chain was essential for a corruption-free and fair business environment with integrity.

She said digitalisation would provide new opportunities for the private and public sectors regarding effective risk management, as well as provide a useful and easy accessible tool to control supply chains, especially for SMEs.