- Want African countries to emulate EFCC over Polygraph’s use for integrity test in investigation
- Urge agencies to use enforcement, preventive measures to tackle corruption
Heads
of Anti-Corruption Agencies have requested Heads of Government in
Europe, the United States and other jurisdictions to work towards speedy
and unfettered repatriation of recovered assets to African countries.
This
was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 9th Commonwealth
Regional Conference of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa at the Lake
Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa in Kampala, Uganda.
The
event took place between May 6 and 10, 2019 and was attended by most of
the Heads of anti-graft agencies in Africa with a theme titled: “Time
to act: Prevent corruption for sustainable development.”
President
of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni declared the conference open
on Monday, May 6, 2019 while the Commonwealth Secretary General, Hon Patricia Scotland, spoke on re
The Acting Chairman of the EFCC and the immediate Chairman of Association of Anti- Corruption Agencies in C
Experts from different walks of life further gave illuminating
The communique further urged Anti-Corruption
Agencies to emulate the EFCC and acquire polygraph technology as part
of their investigative and integrity testing process.
The EFCC is the only agency in Commonwealth Africa using the technology for corruption cases in courts.
An
investigator with the commission had demonstrated the use of the
Polygraph just as other agencies made enquiries from the EFCC on how to
acquire the technology for positive development in anti-graft war.
The conference also expressed
over the heavy losses that Africa suffers as a result of illegal transfers of proceeds of corruption and crime out of Africa.
It
added that there was the need to strengthen cooperation and
collaboration among the Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa
for purposes of facilitating asset recovery and return.
The conference further
acknowledged the benefits of a platform for discussing emerging issues
and sharing good practices and country innovations in the fight against
corruption.
It
noted that delegates made presentations on the theme of the Conference,
discussed innovative measures employed by Anti-Corruption Agencies and
explored other aspects of the programme of the Conference.
The Conference urged
Anti-Corruption Agencies to pursue both preventive and enforcement
measures in the fight against corruption within the unique context of
each country.
The communique further reads in part:
“CALL upon
the Commonwealth Secretary General and the Government of Rwanda to
include Anti-Corruption as a side event of the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Rwanda in 2020;
“FURTHER CALL upon
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to include the issue
of Anti-Corruption as part of the communique for its meeting to be held
in Rwanda in 2020;
“APPEAL to the Heads of Government in Commonwealth Africa to consider ways of providing adequate resources to Anti-Corruption Agencies;
“ENCOURAGE Commonwealth African countries to pursue the enactment of legislation on civil asset forfeiture;
“CALL upon
Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa to strengthen
co-operation and partnership with local, regional and international
Civil Society and media;
“WELCOME the
initiatives of the Commonwealth Secretariat to establish Commonwealth
benchmarks package on Anti-Corruption and integrity standards;
“ENCOURAGE Anti-Corruption
Agencies to convey to their respective governments the importance of
having Integrity Officers within government ministries, departments and
agencies;
“FURTHER ENCOURAGE Anti-Corruption Agencies to consider the Multi-Agency Team approach in the implementation of Anti-Corruption strategies;
“URGE the
Commonwealth Secretariat through the Commonwealth Africa
Anti-Corruption Centre in Botswana to develop a training calendar based
on the training needs of the Anti-Corruption Agencies;
“CALL upon
the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies to adopt a strategy of
engagement with their political elites based on their country context;
“FURTHER CALL upon
Heads of Government and Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies to
engage and empower the citizens to demand transparency, accountability
and effective service delivery;
“REQUEST Heads
of Government in Europe, America and other jurisdictions to work
towards speedy and unfettered repatriation of recovered assets to
African countries;
“EXPRESS appreciation
to the President of the Republic of Uganda and the Inspectorate of
Government for the hospitality extended to the delegates during their
stay in Uganda;
“FURTHER EXPRESS profound
appreciation to the Commonwealth Secretariat for the continued efforts
in supporting the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in
Commonwealth Africa and co-sponsoring and co-organizing the ninth
conference in succession;
“AGREE that
the next Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in
Commonwealth Africa in 2020 will be hosted by Rwanda in partnership with
the Commonwealth Secretariat;
“ELECT Uganda
(Inspector General of Government) as the Chair and Rwanda (Chief
Ombudsman) as the Vice-Chair of the Association of Anti-Corruption
Agencies in Commonwealth Africa.”
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