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The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says the country is paying a high price for unmitigated corruption and abuse of power due to the failure of the government to invest sufficient resources in the fight against them. It said corruption now appeared to have taken control over every sphere of life, since the fight against it had not been �prioritised for years�. The Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Richard Quayson, said this when he addressed the opening of the 2014 Human Rights and Integrity Camp for second cycle schools in Accra yesterday. The five-day camp, the fourth to be organised by CHRAJ, is being attended by students of second cycle schools from all the 10 regions. Its objective is to empower the youth with sound leadership values premised on respect for human rights, integrity and patriotism, and also to develop them into agents of social change in their schools and communities. Mr Quayson noted that at the time corruption had become more sophisticated, more organised and more daring, Ghana had chosen not to invest sufficiently in the fight against it. �Sometimes, one gets the impression that we are not sincere with our efforts at combating corruption or not prioritising the fight against it, � he emphasised. Mr Quayson said human rights and human integrity were so fundamental to modern democracies that all modern societies were taking steps to entrench them as a way of life. �It is now well-established that the best way to combat corruption and prevent human rights abuses is to have a strong culture of integrity and respect for human rights,� Mr Quayson said. �Wishful thinking� He said efforts to enhance the country�s democratic dispensation was, however, being threatened by corruption, for which the fight against it had been �wishful thinking�. �We must be serious in tackling corruption with not only commitment but also invest sufficient resources needed to combat the canker.� Mr Quayson said it was for such reason that the commission was targeting the youth to inculcate in them values of integrity and respect for human rights and dignity. He said the camp had been designed to offer the youth a platform to discuss and deepen their understanding of integrity and human rights issues. �We believe that the youth are the leaders in waiting and, therefore, their understanding and appreciation of free society, rights and responsibilities of citizens, will go a long way to enhancing and sustaining good governance, and promote equity and fairness in Ghana,� he added. Help correct ills in society The acting Director for Secondary Education of the Ghana Education Service, Ms Dorothy Glover, expressed worry over the failure of those in authority to involve the youth when planning programmes and activities for them. �For years, we have denied students access to issues that affect them and it is time we provided them a platform to allow their voices to be heard and respected and participate in decision-making processes,� she said. The Vice Chancellor of the Valley View University College, Professor Dr Daniel Buoh, said the youth were ambassadors of change who must help correct some of the wrongs affecting society today. �As social change agents, you must help expose and correct vices such as armed robbery, teenage pregnancy and premarital sex to make the society a better place,� he advised.