By Gifty Amofa/ Diana Tagoe, GNA
Accra, July 13, GNA - Mrs Linda Ofori-Kwafo, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), has called on African leaders to be more committed to the fight against corruption by moving from slogans to action.
She said African leaders should also dedicate resources to support institutions mandated to help fight the menace.
Mrs Ofori-Kwafo was delivering a letter on behalf of Transparency International (the Global Coalition Against Corruption) at the launch of the African Union (AU) Day Against Corruption, held at the British Council in Accra.
The programme had the theme “Winning the fight against corruption: a sustainable path to Africa’s transformation.”
She appealed to African governments to encourage the training of law enforcement agents and supervisory personnel to work on complex tax evasion, grand corruption and money laundering as well as the recovery of stolen assets.
Again, she said coordination and communication between law enforcing agencies both local and international should be improved to do that.
Mrs Ofori-Kwafo said the 38 active member states out of the 55, had committed to a number of treaties in ensuring good governance and rule of law, adding that, the challenge is still enormous.
By so doing, Transparency International has recommended that the rest of the 17 should join with their colleagues and submit a public report on their progress as well as hold their leaders accountable to implementation of the AU Convention to Prevent and Combat Corruption (AUCPCC).
The AU Advisory Board on Corruption also recommended that the leaders look into the allegation made by Mr Daniel Batidam, former member of the Board on poor governance, among which were the abuse of entrusted power and lack of probity, accountability, transparency and integrity.
On procurement, the civil society organisation advised that African leaders kept an eye on procurement process, as about 25 per cent of resources dedicated to development were lost as a result of leakages.
The Executive Director reiterated the need for the leaders to adhere to the universal human rights treaties to ensure that education, health and the justice system is available to all assigned.
She cited corruption in these areas as procurement in the construction of schools, diversion of resources intended for textbooks and supply, bribery and buying of grades as well bribing some medical officers before they offer services.
Mr Ofori-Kwafo reminded leaders of the continent to commit to the 2016 agreement to disclose beneficial ownership, as a way of ending secrecy that encourages corruption.
Mr Kofi Okyere Agyekum, Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South and the Deputy Chairperson of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC), said, the voluntary group ensures state resources were used economically, effectively and efficiently, adding that, in spite of that, corruption was on the ascendency, thus members had to leverage their strength as law makers to counter it.
Mr Samuel Akuamoah, Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) asked that children be taught civic education to “immunize” them against corruption.
GNA
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