SEND-Ghana organizes durbar on Anti-Corruption in Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ, Lawyer Abdulai Jaladeen, says the advent of the Whistle Blower Act will go a long way to encourage the good citizens of the country to report corrupt practices in their localities. He explained that with the advent of the whistle blower act, there is an award for anybody who reports on corruption if there is a recovery of some money or property, adding the reporter is entitled to ten percent of whatever that is recovered. Lawyer Jaladeen said the receiver of the reportage must conceal the identity of the reporter. Speaking at a durbar organised by SEND GHANA on anti- corruption at Sokabisi a suburb in the Bolgatanga Municipality, the Regional CHRAJ Director said confidentiality is key when it comes to the Whistle Blower Act. He said Ghanaians should not be afraid in reporting corrupt practices in their catchment areas since the laws are there to protect them. Lawyer Jaladeen said anybody who is victimize for reporting corrupt practices should report to CHRAJ, Attorney General Department, Police among other security agencies in the country. The Project Officer of Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre, ALAC, Joseph Makido-Azam, said ALAC has two main components which include advocacy for legislative change related to accountability and advocating for government to resource the mandated institutions like CHRAJ and NCCE. He said the project seeks to lobby parliament and the executive to enact laws that will fight corruption effectively in the country. He said on our part as citizens of this country we should resist all forms of corruption. He said if the people in the country are reluctant in reporting corrupt practices, the mandated institutions cannot help fight corruption in the country. Mr. Makido-Azam said ALAC is an NGO and has no mandate in investigating corrupt practices in the country but only complementing the efforts of CHRAJ and other security agencies to fight corruption. He said the centre receives complaints from victims and witnesses of corruption. The ALAC Project Officer said they receive complaints via phone calls, emails and one-on-one interactions. He said ALAC has three offices across the country, thus Accra, Tamale and Wa. Mr. Makido-Azam said money, valuable goods in the form of gifts, favours and promises are tools used in corrupt practices, and must be avoided.Project Officer of SEND-Ghana, Jonathan Derry, has said the project seeks to create awareness about corruption and to put innovative measures in place to address all form of corrupt practices in the country. He said the performance of the country in the fight against corruption is poor, hence the need for all actors to join hands on deck. Mr. Makido said the fight against corruption is not the duty of one individual, institution or government but collective responsibility of all Ghanaians. He said the project which is financed by the US government and implemented by SEND-Ghana is aimed at providing the platforms and avenues for the good people in the country to report issues of corruption. The durbar, aimed at helping to eliminate corruption in the country brought together key stakeholders such as chiefs, accountability institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs) and community members. The participants discussed the various socio-economic practices that hinder the fight against corruption. Story by GBC’s Samuel Ayammah GBCONLINE ---DECRYPTED---