COVID19 does not stop the fight against corruption in Ghana

Members of the steering committee for the European  ARAP Ghana project have met virtually for the first time to review the latest activities and answer questions related to the programme’s upcoming activities during the pandemic.

Although the COVID19 outbreak has affected the regular holding of activities, at the meeting the project team leader, Ana Sánchez, gave an overview of the last 18 activities backed in the last quarter. Furthermore, she reported that the pandemic has meant that ARAP has had to adopt a contingency plan and review the remaining work plans and activities to support national efforts in the fight against its effects.

Some of the most successful activities include the signing of an anti-corruption memorandum of understanding to combat corruption and crime by 11 institutions; an orientation workshop aimed at improving the management of complaints related to the environment and also the current anti-COVID19 public education campaign, which aims to raise the awareness of the population in the region. In this activity, the ARAP project is coordinating the provision of a mobile cinema van to continue the campaign.

Among the project’s specific activities to adapt to the pandemic, the ARAP project, which is financed by the European Union, will improve the safe working environment by providing new digital platforms, allowing working on-line. The contingency plan has also been periodically updated to maintain contact and coordination between all the players.

The steering committee, which provides support and guidance and monitors the programme’s progress, is made up of the European Union Delegation in Ghana, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Police Service (GPS), the Office of the Attorney General (AG), the Judicial Service (JS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Legal Aid Commission (LAC) and the Economic and Organised Crime Organisation (EOCO). It has successfully completed its first virtual meeting, drawing clear lines on how to move forward with the programme.