GHANA joined the African Union (AU) and its member states in commemorating the 20th anniversary of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption (AUCPCC) on Tuesday. This milestone event serves as a critical moment for stakeholders across the continent to reflect on the progress made in the fight against corruption while acknowledging its detrimental impact on economic growth and development.
A joint statement by the Ghana Inte
grity Initiative (GII) and the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) said amidst the backdrop of Ghana’s current economic challenges and its struggle to combat corruption effectively, key anti-corruption stakeholders have rallied together with Edem Senanu, Ghana’s representative on the AU Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) to mark and use the occasion, as well as the following weeks and months until the end of 2023, to bolster national strategies against corruption and fortify the country’s integrity systems.
Notably, Ghana is one of the 48 African countries that have signed and ratified the AUCPCC, demonstrating its commitment to the convention’s principles. Ghana has made substantial progress in aligning with most of the convention’s articles and has developed the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) to guide and strengthen its anti-corruption efforts.
However, the domestication of crucial aspects of the convention, including the criminalisation of illicit enrichment and diversion of state property, remains pending incorporation into the country’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and other anti-corruption legislation, the statement said.
Furthermore, Ghana’s framework on Asset Declaration, which falls below global standards, requires review to include verification processes and stricter sanctions for non-compliance. In this regard, the two organisations urged the government to expedite the passage of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill to enhance Ghana’s fight against corruption, the statement added.
As representatives of the
Ghanaian people, it is crucial to urge all NACAP implementing partners to report their anti-corruption activities to the NACAP Secretariat, as only 50 agencies submitted their reports for the year 2022. This occasion serves as a clarion call to all stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organisations, media, private sector, government, and academia, to recommit themselves to the fight against corruption. By working together with stronger political will and adequate funding allocated to anti-corruption institutions, victory in the battle against corruption can be achieved.
The commemoration aligns with the AU’s theme of ‘AUCPCC, 20 Years After: Achievements and Prospects.’ It is a reminder that corruption persists and a call to Ghanaians to reclaim cultural values that reject corrupt practices. By adopting research-based and evidence-driven strategies, Ghana, along with other African nations, can overcome corruption and pave the way for a brighter future.
