Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have formed a national accountability platform to strengthen the nation’s fight against corruption by promoting transparency, integrity, and responsible governance.
The platform, the Ghana Accountability Forum (GAF), is a non-partisan group that comprises anti-corruption advocates, media practitioners, youth activists, and some concerned citizens working collectively to demand accountability from duty bearers.
Speaking at the launch of the GAF in Sunyani, Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chairman of the Forum, said the nation required citizen-driven accountability and coordinated civil society actions in the fight against corruption, which remained the bane of progressive development.
He said: “The GAF exists to provide a united voice for accountability, transparency, and integrity” adding that: “We believe that when citizens and civil society act together, the nation can succeed in the fight against corruption.”
Mr Ahenu said the formation of the forum remained necessary “particularly at a time when public trust in governance institutions is under strain.”
He explained that the GAF served as a safe and credible space for dialogue, advocacy, research, and citizen engagement.
It focuses on anti-corruption advocacy, public financial accountability, social accountability, access to information, media freedom, and whistleblower protection.
Mr Ahenu, also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), a human rights, anti-corruption and media advocacy non-government organisation, said strengthening collaboration among CSOs and accountability actors as well as promoting citizen participation remained a realistic approach towards tackling corruption.
The GAF, therefore, seeks to identify and expose alleged corrupt officials who misused public resources and funds, support policy reforms and institutional accountability as well as strengthen media freedoms.
Mr Ahenu said the Forum operated under the slogan “holding power to account, together.” adding that the GAF further sought to foster “a culture where public officials are answerable to citizens and public resources are managed responsibly.
He called for support from government institutions, development partners, the media and the entire society towards achieving its vision of building a more transparent and accountable system in the fight against corruption.
GNA
