The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has organised Anti-Corruption and Transparency Week (ACT) 2019 in Ghana. The celebrations took place between the 2nd and 9th of December 2019 on the theme: “NACAP: Mobilizing National Efforts and Resources to Combat Corruption, Five Years on.” The event brought together stakeholders from government, public and private sectors, academia, media, civil society, and the public among others.

The Launch of the week-long event was attended by the Guest of Honour, Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Anna Bossman who delivered the keynote address. She launched an Information Sheet on the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP).

In July 2014, the Parliament of Ghana unanimously passed the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) document as the country’s strategy in line with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that prescribed “coordinated anti-corruption policies” for countries which Ghana had ratified. Implementation of the strategy began in 2015 after the validation of a reporting tool to assist partners in the reporting of the execution of their roles under NACAP. The NACAP Info Sheet was developed by CHRAJ with support from STAR Ghana Foundation and funding from the UKAid, EU, and DANIDA.

Prior to the Launch of the Info Sheet, the Ag. Head of Policy and Programmes at STAR Ghana Foundation, Teiko Sabah, presented a brief background of the STAR Ghana Foundation and its predecessor programme – the STAR Ghana Programme. She expressed her optimism about the importance of the document by indicating that:

“we believe that this info sheet will provide relevant information to citizens s we work together against corruption.”

Speaking at the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) Conference on the 9^th December 2019 in commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day, the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Ian Walker in a brief statement bemoaned the effects of corruption to any nation. He said:

“Corruption deprives wealth. If economic growth is the engine of development, corruption is driving with the handbrake on,”  

Further, he endorsed the work of NACAB and urged relevant stakeholders to do more in tackling corruption.

The week-long event was organised by CHRAJ in partnership with the Office of the President, the Attorney General’s Office, Judicial Service, EOCO, NCCE, Ghana Police Service, Bank of Ghana, FIC, GACC, PenPlusBytes, STAR Ghana Foundation, and other stakeholders, with the support of the European Union in Ghana through its Accountability Rule of law and Anti-corruption Programme (ARAP), implemented by the Spanish public foundation FIIAPP.