Forum Advocates Collective Action Against Corruption In Africa

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The 12th edition of the African anti-corruption conference, has opened with a clarion call from delegates to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among anti-corruption agencies in Africa to help address the gaps in fighting corruption across the continent.

Organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, the Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, over the next few days, will offer delegates the opportunity to discuss the impacts of corruption on sustainable development and strategies for combating corruption.

The Secretariat’s landmark conference will also interrogate strategies and innovative approaches for combating corruption through sharing knowledge, good practices and success stories, and address key priorities towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16.

During the conference, which is being convened under the theme “Combating Corruption for Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Africa”, delegates will hear from all those dedicated to anti-corruption through a combination of country presentations, expert analysis, and networking.

Around 200 delegates including members of the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, international experts, relevant international organisations, policymakers, and development partners are attending the conference, which has been held annually since its inception in 2011.

With Africa losing over $50 billion a year through illicit flows, equivalent to all annual official development assistance (ODA), the time for action against corruption has never been more urgent.

The Africa Growth Initiative notes that sub-Saharan Africa received nearly $2 trillion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and ODA between 1980 and 2018, but lost more than $1 trillion to illicit financial outflows. When looking at the whole of Africa, that figure rises to $1.3 trillion – enough money that could lift the 1.4 billion people living on less than $1.25 per day out of poverty.

In his keynote address at the opening ceremony, President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, stressed the need for collaboration in the fight against corruption in Africa.

President Kagame who was represented by the Prime Minister of Rwanda, Dr. Edouard Ngirente said several reports have indicated that global corruption is now costing around $1 trillion annually. This, according to him, has severe effects on the lives of our people.

“This cost is very high and continues to weaken the resilience of our communities. Commonwealth Africa member states can make a difference in this fight against corruption through strengthened cooperation and effective accountability mechanisms.

“It is my expectation that this Conference will come up with concrete anti-corruption measures and public sector management practices based on the rule of law, transparency, and accountable governance. As corruption continues to emerge in more sophisticated forms, we need to come up with innovative ways to prevent and address this evolving crime”, he said.

Similarly, Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, stressed the need for international cooperation to stamp out corruption.

“Corruption goes beyond national boundaries and is global in nature. The secrecy in jurisdictions has further made anti-corruption work even more challenging. Co-operation and sharing of information are crucial in the tracking and recovery of assets.

“We must develop and work on simple mechanisms to recover ill-gotten assets lying in foreign jurisdictions. Collaborations must go beyond the anti-corruption agencies to the anti-money laundering agencies and tax authorities across the Commonwealth. We can win the war against corruption through collaboration, cooperation and through a whole-of-Commonwealth approach which harnesses transformative technologies”, he added.

He said that tackling corruption must be a priority of the highest order because it undermines the ability of countries to deliver inclusive and sustainable economic growth and social progress, adding that for anti-corruption efforts to be the best, a Whole-Of-Commonwealth approach can be simply summed up as working together, learning from each other and collectively setting the highest possible standards.

“I am eternally optimistic that, if we work together, and work well, Commonwealth Africa – and the Commonwealth as a whole – will sweep corruption aside and create the lasting, positive space for sustainable development to thrive, and for people everywhere to flourish”, he stressed.

Opening the forum, Rwanda’s Ombudsman, Madeleine Nirere, outlined some of the measures the Government of Rwanda has undertaken towards zero-tolerance against corruption, adding that these measures have been made possible not only because of the political will of the Government but also through the cooperation between national and international institutions in the fight against corruption.

“Let us challenge ourselves to use this [conference as an] opportunity [to] not only support Rwanda’s corruption prevention and fighting strategies but also be the basis for continued collaboration between Anti-Corruption Agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations and international communities.

“Anti-Corruption Agencies are leading institutions to fulfill the goals of sustainable development in partnership with other national, regional and international partners. Indeed, these goals cannot be achieved without a strong collaboration with the above-mentioned stakeholders”, she added.

The Secretariat’s Adviser and Head of Public Sector Governance, Dr Roger Koranteng, said the conference forms part of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s mission of helping member countries tackle systemic corruption by sharing best practices, training, and policy research as well as to bolster inclusive and sustainable development. He added that the Secretariat has made preventing and countering corruption a top priority.

“I, therefore, call on all delegates to use this conference as a steppingstone towards the Africa We Want and redouble efforts to tackle the root causes of corruption. Only by working together, can we build an inclusive and prosperous Commonwealth Africa fit for future generations”, he further stated.

At the conclusion of the conference, a communiqué will be issued outlining important recommendations that can be adapted by member countries in the fight against corruption. Rwanda will now take chairmanship for the upcoming year.