NEPAD brainstorms on new strategies to tackle corruption in Africa
By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni
Abuja, June 4, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Gloria Akobundu, the Chief Executive Officer, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), says that the organisation is brainstorming on new strategies to tackle corruption in Africa.
Akobundu said this at the High Level Continental Consultative Forum on a corruption free African continent with African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) held on Monday in Abuja.
According to her, the consultative forum seeks to elicit sustainable strategies for tackling corruption, which has deprived the citizens of African nation their livelihood and commonwealth.
She said that corruption has hindered development in Africa for decades, stating that the forum came into existence as a result of President Muhammadu Buhari agenda on anti-corruption.
NEPAD boss said that the forum would identify the various sectors’ challenges on corruption in Africa and how to improve on the management of corrupt practices.
Speaking, Ibrahim Magu, Ag. Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) commended the organiser for dedicating the forum to such an important agenda.
He said that tackling corruption remains the surest path to sustainable development in Africa because corruption has been identified as the major reason for under-development and poverty in the continents.
“It is quite clear that most of the problems confronting Africa are directly or indirectly linked to corruption.
“It is therefore imperative that countries must close ranks to defeat this monster.
“We must as a matter of urgency address the leakages in our economies especially the vexed issue of illicit financial flows, this meeting should serve as an avenue for stock taking,” he siad.
Magu noted that Africa has been making progress on the various anti-corruption fronts, particularly in tracking and checking illicit financial flows in line with Africa’s vision to develop a common strategy for assets recovery.
Magu said the forum must think through new strategies to calibrate the assets tracing and recovery and devise new strategies to address new and emerging challenges in the fight against corruption.
He, however, said that EFCC has recorded significant milestone and enviable records in the fight against corruption, stating that there was a need for more peer review among African countries.
Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (Nigeria) said corruption was largely responsible for Africa’s current dismal and underdevelopment.
He said that previous efforts were made at the continental level to address corruption with the AU Convention on Prevention and Combating of Corruption in 2003.
Owasanoye said that as at today six of Africa’s 55 countries are yet to sign while 14 of the countries that signed have not ratified, stating that signatures stand at 49 and ratifications at 38 countries.
He, however, said that many of the countries that signed and ratified have failed to domesticate the principles of the convention thus rendering impotent the import and impact of the convention. (NAN)
TY/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide