Accra: The Leadership Network (TLN), in collaboration with Lead for Ghana (LFG) and supported by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has inaugurated the National Integrity Writing Competition in Accra. The competition seeks to address examination malpractices among junior and senior high school students in Ghana, while fostering ethical leadership by engaging students on themes of integrity, transparency, and ethical leadership.
According to Ghana News Agency, the top three participants will receive cash prizes, educational gadgets, and have their works published in prominent newspapers and online platforms. A statement from TLN, provided to the Ghana News Agency, highlighted remarks by Mr. Lolo Amevinya, the Associate Manager of TLN, during the launch. Mr. Amevinya emphasized that integrity in education correlates with integrity in public life, hence the theme: 'Cheating in School, Corruption in Society: The Cost of Lost Integrity.'
Mr. Amevinya pointed out that examination malpractices are a troubling issue within Ghana's educational system, particularly evident during the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). He noted that these unethical practices extend beyond academia, influencing the moral values of future leaders. "When young people normalize cheating in exams, they begin to normalize corruption in leadership," he remarked.
The initiative aims to involve approximately 10,000 students from junior and senior high schools, enhancing their understanding of the connection between academic dishonesty and societal corruption. Participants are encouraged to leverage their creativity to produce essays, poems, or short stories that illustrate the roots and impacts of dishonesty in education on national progress.
The competition is divided into two categories: the Junior High School category and the Senior High School category. Mr. Amevinya stated that all submissions must be original, unpublished works, free from Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistance, and typed. Each participant is allowed one entry, to be submitted via https://bit.ly/4h6RgnU, with the submission window open until November 15, 2025.
The award ceremony is scheduled for December 09, 2025, coinciding with International Anti-Corruption Day. The Leadership Network is a Pan-African community of proactive individuals, emerging from the alumni movement of Lead for Ghana, a non-profit organization.