GACC Trains Citizen Groups to Champion Anti-Corruption Efforts at the Local Level

As part of efforts to deepen good governance and empower citizens in the fight against corruption, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has successfully concluded the second phase of its anti-corruption training for citizen groups under the Strengthening Accountability, Rule of Law, and Institutional Responsiveness in Ghana (SARIS) project.

Held from May 6 to 15, 2025, the training covered eight districts in the Northern, Ahafo, and Bono regions—namely Tatale, Yendi, Kumbungu, Savelugu, Tano South, Tain, Berekum East, and Sunyani.

A cross session of participants at Tano South during the training

The sessions aimed to equip participants with an understanding of Ghana’s Public Financial Management laws, the audit process, and mechanisms for reporting corruption. It also focused on building the capacity of citizens to monitor audit recommendations, engage in community sensitisation, and hold duty bearers accountable.

“This training has empowered me to speak up in my community. Now, I know the laws and how to use them to demand accountability.” -Emelia Kobi, Hairdresser, Tain.

Participants included members from civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), youth and women’s groups, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The sessions were facilitated by experts from the Ghana Audit Service, ensuring practical insights and guidance throughout the training.

“We are glad of the progress made. Citizens are more confident, more informed, and better equipped to lead the fight against corruption at the local level.” – Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe, Programmes Officer, GACC

“The fight against corruption does not end because we do not see drastic change. It’s like going to church, preaching continues despite sin. We must keep pushing collectively.”- Formal Presiding Member for Berekum East Assembly.

A group picture of participants at Sunyani

To broaden the impact, GACC partnered with local media outlets in each district to engage the public through radio discussions and interviews, providing a platform for citizens to understand key anti-corruption issues and learn how to report corruption and demand accountability. Participating stations included Dasuma Radio (Yendi), Simli Radio (Kumbungu), Mighty FM (Savelugu), Bechem FM (Tano South), Globe TV (Tain), Nimdee FM (Sunyani), and Akomapa FM (Berekum East).

As part of the training, participants also developed district-specific action plans to guide their upcoming sensitisation efforts, ensuring that the fight against corruption continues through targeted community engagement.

The training equipped citizens across eight districts, enhancing their understanding of public financial governance and audit procedures, strengthening community-level advocacy and monitoring skills, and leading to the development of localized anti-corruption action plans.

Participants developing action plan for their community sensitization

The SARIS project is being implemented by GACC in partnership with the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) and Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), with financial support from the European Union.

“Corruption today is your future tomorrow. The integrity you uphold today is the future you inherit tomorrow. Let’s all rise against corruption and nail it at its bud.” – Ralph Ahenu, GACC’s focal person for Sunyani

The initiative concluded with a renewed call to action for citizens to remain engaged, vocal, and committed to building a transparent, accountable Ghana, from the grassroots up.

Mr. Solomon Nyankah

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Solomon Nyankah is the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the GACC. He is a hard-working, self-starter, team player, dedicated, and results-oriented person committed to rendering effective service to any organisation through continuous learning and self-development for the benefit of the organisation and society. He possesses excellent interpersonal, data collection, and management skills. Solomon is proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).

Prior to his appointment at GACC, Solomon worked with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) as a technical planning analyst in the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Division. He joined the NDPC from 2017 to 2023. His duties included coordinating the preparation of the national Annual Progress Reports (APRs) from 2017 to 2022; the President's Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (CPESDP) 2021–2024, and the National Medium Term Development Policy Framework (NMTDPF) for 2018–2021 and 2022–2025. He also provided technical assistance in the preparation of the National Development Monitor; the SDG Voluntary National Review Reports (2019 and 2022; sector and district development plans and progress reports; and the mid-term evaluation of the medium-term National Development Policy Framework, "Agenda for Jobs, Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All, 2018 -2021". Solomon provided technical backstopping for district planning officers on participatory M&E; served as a national trainer on the District Development Data Platform (DDDP) for all regional economic planners, district planning officers, and MIS/statisticians in Ghana; and was a resource pe rson for an ECOWAS sensitization workshop on ECOWAS Protocols held in the Central Region. He also facilitated the mainstreaming of integrated social services indicators into district plans.

Solomon Nyankah holds a B.Sc. degree in Development Management from the University for Development Studies. Other training certificates include: Integrated Planning and Reporting Toolkit (IPRT) by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); SDG Toolkits Integration, Monitoring, and Evaluation; and Data Visualisation and Advanced Data Visualisation (Tableau and Canvas) by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)

The Parliament of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with the provisions of the Fourth Republican Constitution in October 1993 enacted the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act (Act 456), to establish the Commission.

The commission seeks to foster a culture of respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as administrative justice and fairness in Ghanaian society. The commission also exist to promote integrity and decency in Ghanaian public life by investigating corruption and educating the public about its high costs and, conversely, the significant pay-offs of a relatively corrupt free society.

Section 7(10)(a)-(h) of the Commission’s enabling statute Act 456 spells out the functions of the Commission as follows:

Investigate complaints of violations of fundamental rights and freedoms, injustice, corruption, abuse of power and unfair treatment of any person by public officer in the exercise of his official duties;

Investigate complaints concerning the functioning of the Public Services Commission, the administrative Organs of the State, the Armed Forces, the Police Service in so far as complaints relate to the failure to achieve a balanced structuring of those services or equal access by all to the recruitment of those services or fair administration in relation to those services;

Investigate complaints concerning practices and actions by persons, private enterprises and other institutions where those complaints allege violations of fundamental rights and freedoms under this constitution;

Investigate allegations that a public officer has contravened or has not complied with a provision of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. The Code requires that public officers shall declare their assets and liabilities on assumption of office, every four years, and on leaving office;

Investigate all instances of alleged or suspected corruption and the misappropriation of public moneys by officials and to take appropriate steps, including reports to the Attorney-General and the Auditor General, results from such investigations;

Educate the public as to human rights and freedom by such means as the Commissioner may decide, including publications, lectures and symposia;

Investigate confiscation of property made by the two previous military regimes, the Armed forces Revolutionary Council and the Provisional National Defence;

Report annually to Parliament on the performance of its functions.

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GACC Trains Citizen Groups to Champion Anti-Corruption Efforts at the Local Level

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National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE)

Ms. Agnes Opoku Ayemang

Intern

Ms. Pamela Laourou

Intern

Ms. Dorcas Affum Tenkorang

Volunteer

Mr. Isaac Bakoe

Driver

Ms. Priscilla Opoku

Office Assistant

Mr. Christian Atteh Semekor

Finance Officer

Mr. Solomon Nyankah

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Mr. Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe

Programmes Officer

Mr. Godfred Oppong Amoako

Head of Finance & Admin

Mr. Bright Kwadwo Sowu

Head of Programmes & Deputy Executive Secretary

Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh

Executive Secretary

Private Enterprise Federation

Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD)

Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)

Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO)

Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)

Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)

Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII)

Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace (GCRP)

Good Governance Africa (GGA)

Public Procurement Authority (PPA)

Ghana Audit Service (GAS)