As Africa marked African Anti-Corruption Day on July 11, ECOWAS West African Youth Ambassador and EYC Anti-Corruption Ambassador, Dr. Jamezany James (Hon), issued a strong call for young people to take the lead in confronting corruption, describing it as a direct assault on the continent’s development and future.
In a statement released to commemorate the annual observance, Dr. James declared that corruption continues to rob Africa of critical investments in education, employment, healthcare and economic opportunity, insisting that the continent’s youth must become the driving force behind a new culture of integrity and accountability.
“Corruption steals our schools, our jobs, our hospitals, and our future,” he said. “But we the youth are the watchdogs, and the solution. The fight starts with us. Integrity starts with us.”
He urged young Africans to embrace transparency, ethical leadership and civic responsibility as essential pillars for building stronger democratic institutions across West Africa and the continent.
The statement aligns with the objectives of African Anti-Corruption Day, commemorated each year on July 11 to mark the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC). The annual observance, coordinated by the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), seeks to mobilise governments, civil society, the private sector and citizens to strengthen governance systems and reinforce institutional integrity.
This year’s continental theme, “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa,” reflects growing recognition that awareness campaigns alone are no longer sufficient to confront corruption’s pervasive impact on governance and development.
The African Union is urging Member States and stakeholders, including anti-corruption agencies, civil society organisations, the media, academia, faith-based institutions, traditional authorities, political leaders, businesses, families and citizens, to intensify practical measures that promote transparency and accountability at every level of society.
For diplomats and development partners, the 2026 observance underscores a broader policy challenge: translating anti-corruption commitments into measurable institutional reforms. Analysts argue that sustainable progress will depend not only on stronger legal frameworks but also on empowering young people to become active participants in public accountability.
Dr. James’ intervention reinforces the growing role of youth diplomacy in advancing governance agendas across the region, positioning Africa’s younger generation not merely as beneficiaries of reform but as key actors in safeguarding democratic values and promoting transparent leadership.
As African governments pursue the goals of the African Union’s governance agenda, this year’s observance serves as a reminder that the credibility of anti-corruption efforts will ultimately be judged not by declarations, but by tangible improvements in public trust, institutional integrity and accountable leadership.
Story: Lawal Mohammed
