12/07/2022
Press Statement for Immediate Release
Monday, July 11, 2022
Message to the African Union (AU) and Member States (Liberia included) in Commemoration of the 2022 African Anti-corruption Day on the theme: "Strategies and Mechanisms for the Transparent Management of COVID-19 Funds”.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, fellow Liberians, and development partners.
As you may be aware, The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) was adopted in Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July 2003 and came into force in 2006.
To date, the Convention has been ratified by 47 Member States of the African Union, including Liberia. Since adoption of the Convention, African states have made significant efforts in the fight against corruption, including the establishment of national laws and the creation of anti-corruption agencies. However, major challenges still remain.
In recognition of the vast progress that has been made and cognizant of the need to continually reflect on approaches to end corruption, the African Union designated 11 July as the African Anti-Corruption Day, just as December 9 is celebrated as International Anti-Corruption Day.
Thus, the African Union Commission and her specialized bodies, especially the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUBC) have since been holding relevant activities and events to commemorate the day.
The Commission is not mistaken in its decision, as Corruption remains the major hurdle to poverty reduction, sustainable and inclusive economic development, as well as peace and stability on the continent, especially in poor countries such as Liberia. In the words of the AU Commission, “July 11 is meant to give prominence to the fight against corruption through the commemoration of the adoption of the AUCPCC as a mechanism for fighting corruption in Africa”.
It must be reemphasized that Liberia has signed and adopted the African Union Convention Against Corruption. Liberia ratified the Convention in 2007 and has since been an integral part of legal frameworks for fighting against corruption in the country, in addition to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Economic Community of West African States Protocol on Corruption, and Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 16.5.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, fellow Liberians, as an integral part of global and continental fights against corruption, Transparency International and her African Chapters, including the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), join the AU Commission and other stakeholders in Commemorating July 11 as African Anti-Corruption Day.
For some time now, the Transparency International’s Movement has consistently reminded the AU Commission and her members states about their obligations and commitments to fostering a robust, inclusive, and dynamic fight against corruption – a fight that does not protect confidantes and cronies of the power-that-be, but impartially and timely investigates and prosecutes all corruption cases.
Furthermore, we have been urging African Governments to move away from rhetoric to more tangible and impactful actions, including but not limited to strengthening anti-corruption legal frameworks, providing adequate financial and moral support to public integrity institutions, as well as increasing efforts to address immunity--ensuring that there are no untouchable individuals and groups in the fight against corruption.
This is particularly true for Liberia that continues to struggle with addressing Impunity due to limited political will, weak implementation of laws and policies, and poorly funded public integrity institutions such as the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, General Auditing Commission, Public Procurement and Concession Commission, and Liberia Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative.
As the African Union Commission celebrates another July 11 (African Anti-Corruption Day), on behalf of Transparency International Secretariat and the 28 African Chapters, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia is pleased to inform the public about a 14-count Open Letter to the AU Commission and her Member States. Among other things, the 28 Chapters of Transparency International across all Africa’s Regional Economic Communities in Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa take the opportunity again to highlight the following:
• Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the livelihoods of African citizens and demanded additional resources be deployed by governments, and that while more resources are needed to address the impact of the pandemic, there is need to manage the available resources with greater transparency and accountability;
• Recognising that Africa is the region most affected by illicit financial outflows, and addressing that this challenge would substantially increase resources for the continent to meet its development needs;
• Concerned that there is still an urgent need to address corruption in the delivery of basic services, which mostly affects the most vulnerable and marginalised citizens who greatly depend on these public services;
• Observing the urgent need for national-level follow-up and implementation of Africa’s commitments on anti-corruption and democratic governance; take the opportunity to again:
1. Applaud the African Union (AU) for earmarking and marking 11 July as African Anti-Corruption Day and especially welcome this year’s theme: "Strategies and Mechanisms for the Transparent Management of COVID-19 Funds”.
The pandemic has greatly disrupted the livelihoods of African citizens, impeded the movement of people, and exposed inequalities in access to essential goods and services including healthcare and food.
2. Commend the 3 Member States of the AU that have recently ratified the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption (AUCPCC) joining the 44 Member States that had already ratified it, and call upon the remaining 8 Member States to take measures to ratify, domesticate, implement and develop clear action plans for this important Convention at the earliest opportunity.
The AUCPCC provides a bold and robust roadmap for the implementation of anti-corruption efforts and reinforces the commitments made by Member States of the AU to uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as the underlying values of transparency, integrity, participation and accountability.
3. Further commend the 36 Member States of the AU that have ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and urge the remaining 19 Member States to take swift measures to ratify this important African treaty.
4. Note with great concern that corruption is and remains a significant threat to democracy and democratic institutions, and poses a significant hindrance to African States in realising Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
5. Further note that the impact of corruption on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the necessary resources, vaccines and personnel, is visible and cannot be ignored given its effect on the most vulnerable, poor and marginalised people.
6. Recognise the commendable leadership and coordination of African institutions like the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in rallying regional resources for the continent to address COVID-19 and forestall a potentially disastrous outcome from this and other humanitarian crises.
7. Further join with the AU in calling for reforms to the global financial architecture and thereby recognise the establishment of the Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows in a bid to strengthen resource mobilisation and to curb losses and wastages on the continent, as well as reduce the dependence on external predatory loans that have increased the debt burden across the continent.
8. Call on the AU to accelerate the completion, roll-out and implementation of the Tax and Illicit Financial Flows Strategy. The strategy that is being developed will effectively position the continent to instigate global reforms on an inclusive tax treaty and increase the resources available in a post-pandemic era.
9. Further call on AU Member States to strengthen “know your customer” rules to ensure that enablers of corruption and illicit financial flows, including professional enablers such as bankers, lawyers and accountants, are held accountable for actions that facilitate the loss of resources.
10. Remind African leaders of our 2016 call on governments to disclose beneficial ownership information as a way of ending the secrecy that enables corruption, and our 2018 call on governments to:
a. Publish timelines for establishing public registers, in open data format, containing beneficial ownership information;
b. Require foreign companies operating in Africa to register and disclose their beneficial owners;
c. Require bidders for public contracts to undergo due diligence procedures to verify the background of the company and its senior officers, majority shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners, as well as disclose the identity of beneficial owners;
d. Require high-risk sectors, such as the real estate industry, to have anti-money laundering programme requirements, including customer due diligence and adequate record keeping; and
e. Ensure there are appropriate sanctions proportionate to the misconduct involved for those found guilty of breaching these and related laws.
11. Enjoin African states to address corruption in the delivery of basic services especially housing, water, sanitation, education, health, humanitarian responses and judicial systems. Corruption in basic service delivery tends to mostly affect the poorest of citizens who depend on these public services, and particularly disadvantages persons living with disabilities, women and children.
Similarly, corruption in land management systems exacerbates inequalities by violating the fundamental rights of local communities, particularly vulnerable groups. We urgently remind African leaders of our 2018 call to the AU to:
a. Promote transparency and accountability in the delivery of basic services, land administration systems and justice systems and end impunity for those convicted of corrupt practices; and
b. Create mechanisms to collect citizens’ complaints and strengthen whistleblower protection, notably through the adoption of appropriate legislation in accordance with international standards.
12. Urge State Parties to the AUCPCC to take swift action to report their progress on the implementation of the AUCPCC as required by Article 22(7) of the Convention, with the full participation of civil society in an enabling environment as required by Article 12 of the AUCPCC. We appreciate the efforts of the very few States that have so far reported.
13. Hereby jointly with other partners reaffirm our commitment to work with the AU through the distinguished African Union Advisory Board against Corruption, the African Governance Architecture and other Organs related thereto, and most especially work with the anti-corruption agencies in our various Member States to eliminate corruption from the daily lives of African citizens. And
14. Convey the assurances of our highest consideration.
Signed: ______________________
Anderson D. Miamen
Executive Director
