They said corrupt officials seem to be operating as a network and it has become a herculean task to apprehend them, hence the need for stiffer punishments to curb the canker.

The forum, organised by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) on Monday, was attended by religious leaders and representatives from civil society organisations in the Northern Region.

The International Anti-corruption Day is marked on December 09, every year since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on October 31, 2003, to raise public awareness on corruption and its effects citizens.

A recent Afrobarometer survey has revealed that corruption has worsened in the country compared to previous years.

Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani, Northern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, who gave the keynote address, called on religious leaders to always speak the truth about developments in the country to help respond to corruption.

Mr Nantomah Adam Baani, Northern Regional Anti-corruption Focal Person at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) complained that government was constraining CHRAJ with resources, a situation, which was affecting its work.

Mr Baani said CHRAJ lacks human and financial resources to execute its mandate under the Constitution to respond to corruption and promote human rights, adding "We rely on NGOs and development partners to support us to do our work".

He called for political will to adequately resource CHRAJ to carry out its functions to help respond to corruption in the country.

Maulvi Abdul Jabar Adam, Zonal Missionary, Ahmadiyyah Muslim Mission, Tamale called on Imams to stop accepting sponsorships from politicians to embark on pilgrimage to Mecca to perform Hajj.

He said accepting such sponsorships from politicians put Imams in a difficult position to speak the truth to politicians when the need arises.