By: Set Opoku Agyemang, Sunyani
Ghana marked the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day with an unexpected but powerful message—this time from young pupils determined to demand a cleaner and more accountable nation.
A total of 370 pupils from Adantia Methodist JHS and Fiapre Methodist JHS in the Sunyani West District have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to strengthen and properly resource Ghana’s anti-corruption institutions to enable them to work effectively.
The pupils made the appeal during a community sensitization programme held at Adantia, where they expressed worry over the persistent levels of corruption in the country. According to them, corruption continues to delay development and negatively affects the wellbeing, safety, and opportunities available to Ghanaian children.
They noted that corruption drains funds meant for school buildings, healthcare, learning materials, and other social interventions that are crucial to improving the lives of young people.
The pupils also called for harsher punishment for corrupt officials, stressing that slow prosecutions and lenient sanctions only embolden wrongdoers and weaken public trust in state institutions.
This year’s event was organised by the Sunyani Local Accountability Network in collaboration with the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, with support from GIZ, the European Union, and the Helwalt Foundation. The programme forms part of ongoing efforts to empower young people to speak up, demand accountability, and participate actively in building a corruption-free Ghana.
Facilitator and CEO of Global Media Foundation LBG, Raphael Godlove Ahenu, underscored the importance of involving children in national accountability conversations. He said children are often overlooked yet suffer the most from the consequences of corruption. He commended the pupils for their boldness and encouraged them to continue championing integrity and transparency in their communities.
International Anti-Corruption Day is observed globally on December 9 each year to raise awareness about the dangers of corruption and to mobilise citizens and institutions to act against it. This year’s celebration in Sunyani West stood out for amplifying the voices of young people calling for stronger leadership, accountability, and a renewed commitment to fighting corruption.
The pupils ended their message with a hopeful appeal:
“We want a Ghana where our leaders protect our future, not their pockets.”
