MOVES TO FIGHTING CORRUPT AND FRADULENT PRACTICES ON THE COUNTRY’S CORRIDORS

23-11-09 MOVES TO FIGHTING CORRUPT AND FRADULENT PRACTICES ON THE COUNTRY’S CORRIDORS

Narration: In efforts to fighting corruption and fraudulent practices on the major corridors within the ECOWAS sub region, Social Support Foundation (SSF), in collaboration with the Community Development and Advocacy Center (CODAC), both non- governmental organizations, has organized a workshop for media practitioners at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The workshop which aimed at supporting the campaign to free the West African transport corridors from excessive barriers, corruption and delays particularly, on the Tema-Ouagadougou corridors was on the theme” fighting corrupt and fraudulent practices on the Tema-Paga-Ouagadougou trunk road the role of the media: the way forward for Ghana. Isaac Asare was at the meeting and has sent this report.

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Report
The workshop is an accelerating Economic Development through Improved Road Transport Governance (AED-IRTG) Project geared at contributing towards enhancing equitable access, accountability and transparency in road transport governance within the West African sub region. This is through active media participation using various strategies including sensitization and behavioral change communication, advocacy and capacity building among others to fight the canker . The Project Manager of Community Development and Advocacy Center (CODAC), Bukari Issaku in a presentation, emphasized that the responsibility of ensuring good practices on the major corridors in the West Africa sub region greatly lies on the officials designated by the respective countries to man the check points and to a lesser extent on all road users especially drivers and driver unions in our respective countries. He charged the media to help expose security personnel manning the various check points in the country by closely monitoring their activities to help reduce bribery, delays and harassment of drivers and other passengers at the check points which he stressed constitutes s huge impediment to smooth trade within the sub region. Mr. Issaku challenged individuals, stakeholders and duty bearers to drivers, road users and political heads to take concrete measures to reform and transform road regulations of officials at the check points since the sub region loses high revenue as a result of extortion and other illegal activities by some officials. He urged drivers to join in the fight against the menace.

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