Residents and market operators in Tema have been encouraged to formally report allegations of extortion and unofficial payments involving public officials and uniformed personnel to enable the appropriate authorities to investigate them.
The call was made during a civic engagement organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Tema under the Participation, Accountability, and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme, supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the Ministry of Finance.
The engagement provided a platform for participants to raise concerns about alleged unofficial payments demanded in connection with public services and activities within the metropolis.
Ms Faustina Gyekye, a market representative, alleged that her sister paid GH¢14,000 in an attempt to secure placements for more than one child under the Computerised School Placement System.
According to Ms Gyekye, the payment did not produce the expected placements, leading her sister to demand a refund.
She said her sister subsequently recovered part of the money from the person who allegedly received the payment.
Ms Gyekye said the experience highlighted the vulnerability of parents seeking school placements and the importance of relying on official procedures rather than individuals claiming to have the ability to influence placement outcomes.
Another participant, Ms Adobea Gyan, a charcoal seller, alleged that some city guards demanded money from traders whenever charcoal consignments arrived by truck.
She alleged that a woman she identified as an official of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) regularly demanded money from her and her sister, claiming that the charcoal loads had dirtied her uniform.
Ms Gyan said she eventually confronted the woman over the alleged demands.
Ms Lawrencia Gyimah, a market chairwoman, also raised concerns about alleged unofficial collections from traders by some city guards.
She called on the relevant authorities to investigate complaints from market women and take appropriate action where wrongdoing was established.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Fidel Bortey, a Resource Person at the NCCE Tema Metropolitan Office, urged participants to document their complaints and submit them to the Public Relations and Complaints Committee (PRCC).
He said formally reporting complaints to the appropriate institutions would improve the prospects of investigation and redress.
Ms Mildred Edinam Adzraku, a Technical Advisor at GIZ, meanwhile urged citizens not to resort to bribery when confronted with difficulties in accessing public services.
She acknowledged that official processes could sometimes be frustrating but cautioned that paying bribes could reinforce the very practices citizens complained about.
“If we, ourselves, as citizens, when there’s a challenge, the first thing you think about is how to pay a bribe, then you are encouraging them,” she said.
Mrs Emma Owusu, a Civic Education Officer, also urged participants to follow up on complaints raised during civic engagements rather than waiting for subsequent meetings to revisit unresolved matters.
She said regular and timely follow-up would enable the NCCE to track reported concerns and facilitate engagement with the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
