By Hannah Dadzie and Maame Esi Quainoo
The Ghana Integrity Initiative, GII, has named Investigative Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and Detective Lance Corporal, Confidence Fiagadzi of the Ghana Police Service, as Integrity Personalities for the 2021 edition of its Awards.
They were honored for contributing positively and sustainably to the promotion of integrity and the fight against corruption. It was keenly contested among five personalities including Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and GJA Journalist of the Year, Samson Lardy Ayennini.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Joseph Whittal who commended GII for the initiative said the country must change the approach in fighting corruption as sanctioning bad behavior alone cannot win the fight.
The Award recognizes outstanding individuals, private and public sector institutions for their significant contributions towards the fight against corruption. It also serves as incentives to influence positive behavior in Ghana and to provide an emotional reward to individuals and organizations doing the “right things” with integrity.
The award which was instituted in 2019 was suspended last year due to COVID-19.
Three institutions made up of the Internal Audit, National Identification Authority and the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE were also awarded for promoting effective internal audit, efficient service delivery and transparency.
The Commissioner of CHRAJ, Joseph Whittal encouraged individuals to stand for the right to change the corruption narrative in Ghana.
” We are born with knowledge of right and wrong but then some of us choose to go wrong, follow wrong values and that is how we end up not being men and women of Integrity. Sanctions alone for bad behavior are not enough. We need to look at the form of punishment and rewards because the two go together”.
Executive Director of GII, Madam Linda Ofori-Kwafo, said though the country has taken several measures to fight the canker which has seen the setting up of the office of the Special Prosecutor, more needs to be done.
”While acknowledging that fighting corruption is no mean venture it is encouraging that Ghana has taken several measures since 1960 all be it corruption is still a major problem in Ghana. As crime becomes more sophisticated as society develops, GII has recognized the critical importance to complement the sanctions regime with an award system that supports the preventive approach to the fight against corruption”.
The two Awardees also shared some thoughts and expressed gratitude to the GII for the awards.
Manasseh Azure Awuni sent a plea to Ghana’s Attorney General to go after the perpetrators of corruption, after evidence is found.
”In a country of over 30 million if a shortlist of five is presented and that is associated with Intergrity and your name is mentioned I think it’s very humbling. Fighting corruption is very risky, so when you risk your life and expose the wrought and nothing is done to the individuals it becomes very disheartening and it is a disincentive in the fight against corruption”, he noted.
Detective Lance Corporal, Confidence Fiagadzi expressed gratitude for the honor done to them.
”This is far, by grace and what I want to tell my colleague Police Officers is that hard work pays. In our own small way, we can deliver and do well without any eye watching us and out of that we shall be rewarded accordingly. This award given to me is an additional responsibility and in fact after receiving it I am not supposed to go and sleep but I must explore and do better”, Detective Lance Corporal, Fiagadzi noted.
