GHANA INTEGRITY INITIATIVE HOLDS FORUM AT BECHEM

The Ghana Integrity initiative in collaboration with Human Care and Maintenance Foundation a Non-  Governmental Organization based at Bechem has held a stakeholders engagement Forum on anti corruption. At Bechem in the Tano South District.
The forum which had for its theme “The role of stakeholders in the strengthening and implementation of National Anti Corruption Legislation “ saw two resource persons drawn from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and the Ghana Integrity Initiative addressing the participants.
In a presentation, the Tano South District Director of CHRAJ Mr. Owusu  Bediako  Appah welcomed all participants and called for Cooperation and contribution from participants to make the programme  a success. He said that,the Commission on Human Right and Administrative Justice was established under the 1992 constitution of Ghana by an act of parliament and hinted that the commission is mandated to deal with  issues pertaining to Human Rights and Administrative Justice and Anti-Corruption
Mr. Owusu said, on National Human Right Institution,  CHRAJ has the responsibility   to promote and protect fundamental Human Rights and Freedom in Ghana and stressed that the work of the Commission has been divided into two main sections namely promotion and prevention and protection and enforcement.
Mr. Owusu said, on promotion and prevention, the commission is committed to show respect for human rights in the Ghanaian society through public education and awareness creation, research and monitoring whilst on protection and enforcement the Commission seeks to investigate violations of fundamental Human Rights and Freedom with the use of methodologies such as mediation, negotiation and Formal hearing.
    Mr. Owusu said, the Commission in the performance of its Administrative Justice mandate seeks to investigate complaints about how public institutions perform its executive and administrative functions and explained that the Commission promotes Administrative Justice in the public sector service delivery in Ghana.
Speaking  on Anti-Corruption, Mr. Owusu said the Commission is mandated to investigate allegation of corruption  and conflict of interest abuse of power and misuse of public funds in the public serves in Ghana. He said the Commission also seek to sensitize the general public on corruption and solicit public support to fight corruption at all levels of the society.
Mr. Owusu said, the National Anti-corruption Action Plan has four important strategic objectives which would help NACAP to achieve its goals and mentioned them as to build public capacity to condemn, fight corruption and make its practice a high risk activity, To institutionalize efficiency, accountability and transparency in the public, private and not for profit sectors, To engage individuals, media and civil society organization reports and combat corruption and  to conduct effective investigation and prosecution of corrupt conduct.
A Senior Programme and Research Officer  of the Ghana Integrity Initiative Miss Seyram Agbemenya in a presentation said the GII is a local chapter of Transparency International and was established in Ghana in December, 1999 with the aim of creating awareness on the negative effect of corruption, To empower  citizens to demand responsiveness, accountability and transparency from people and institutions in Ghana and also to build a culture of integrity where corruption is unprofitable for people working in government, politics, business and civil society organization and said Ghana integrity initiative is an anti-corruption organization which work to curb corruption in Ghana and mentioned corruption as an abuse of entrusted power for private gains.
Miss Seyram  mentioned the core values of the GII as integrity, Transparency, Accountability, independence impartiality, objective and cooperation and explained that the GII has set up various strategic objectives to help fight against corruption in Ghana and mentioned some of the strategic objectives as to educate the Ghanaian public on the negative effect  of corruption and the need to control it, To educate the public about civic right and duties especially the need to demand transparency and accountability from office holders, To encourage net-working of non-governmental organization and community based organizations in the fight against corruption, To press for policy and legislative reforms aimed at  promoting transparency, accountability and integrity, To support the evolution of strong institutions of governance especially the institutions which are directly involved in Anti-corruption activities, to create and administer training programmes in ethics and civic duty and also to liaise with   International Anti-Corruption strategies and activities.
On the effect of corruption in nation building, Miss Seyram  said corruption causes economic and social obstacle to the development  of the nation, it undermines democracy and the rule of law and also brings about poverty and to put an end to corrupt conduct She said, it is time to stop those who get away with the act of corruption and mentioned that legal loopholes and lack  of political will in government facilitate corruption and called all and sundry to intensify efforts to combat the impunity of the corrupt.

MUSLIMS IN BECHEM CELEBRATE EID-ADAH

Muslims in Bechem and its environs thronged the Islamic Primary school park to cerebrate Eid-Adah with prayers which was led by the Chief Imam of Bechem, Alhaji Bukari Gariba.

A section of the musilms at the prayers

Leading the Muslims in prayer, the Chief Imam prayed for Gods guidance for the Nation and its leaders. Alhaji  Gariba reminded the Muslims of their commitment to Allah and called on them to pray for divine intervention in all their endeavors. He said Muslims are of a good faith and that they should not be seen as trouble seekers and extorted them to be true worshipers of Allah the Most High.

The chief Imam leading the Muslims in prayer

In a speech at the Eid-Adah Day Cerebration, the Tano South District Chief Executive, Hon. Bukari Zakari Anaba on behalf of the President of the Nation and the Tano South District Asembly wished the Muslims Barikade Sallah.

                       

The Tano South DCE addressing the Muslims

Hon. Anaba used the occasion to educate the Muslims on the deadly Ebola disease which has rocked some West African States and Cholera which is fast gaining root in some parts of the country.

He advised the Muslims to be mindful that Ebola is derived from the consumption of some species of bush meat and bats and called on them to refrain from the consumption of bush meats though they are Muslims.

Touching on the spread of Cholera in the country, Hon. Anaba said Cholera is derived from unhygienic or insanitary conditions and environment and advised them to always wash their hands with soap after every activity which requires the use of the hand and entreated them to always consume meals which are warm or hot.

Hon. Anaba said the Tano South District has registered 26 cases of Cholera out of which 7 has been confirmed with 2 deaths and called on all to guard against the further spread of the disease.

Hon. Anaba informed the Muslims that the Assembly and MP would combine to furnish the school and Mosque project currently been undertaking for the Islamic primary school at Bechem and called on them to send their children to school.

The Chief Imam in his final remarks thanked the Tano South District Assembly for undertaking the school and Mosque building project for the Islamic Primary school at Bechem and assured that the project when completed would be put in good use and called on Muslim parents to send their children to school.

A Ram was slaughtered by the Chief Imam to signify the marking of Eid-Adah Day.

   

Slaughtering of the Ram to mark the Day