CHARUMBIRA also observed that in addition to its health, humanitarian and
socio-economic effects, the novel corona virus also poses a governance issue.
This was contained in a press release by Mr. Jeffrey Onganga, Pan African Parliament’s Media Officer.
The Pan-African Parliament joined other organs and institutions of the AU
for the virtual commemoration of the 4th African Anti-Corruption Day
slated for 11 July 2020 but which PAP held a deferred webinar on 13 July 2020
under the theme: ‘Sustaining the
fight against corruption in Africa in the time of COVID-19 pandemic.’
According to CHARUMBIRA, “Parliamentarians can play a role in
curbing corruption during these difficult times by ensuring, among other
things, that state institutions that are tasked with defeating corruption are
adequately resourced and competent to execute their mandate. With governments
taking a series of important decisions and allocating resources in the fight
against COVID-19, this has created an opportunity for corrupt practices. Our
engagement with stakeholders such as civil society, judiciary and
anti-corruption institutions as part of this webinar will allow us to deliberate on ways to strengthen our
oversight role in the fight against COVID-19,”
Moderated by Hon. Ahamat Tahir
AHAMAT of the PAP Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA), the
webinar aimed to assess the effectiveness of anti-corruption initiatives taken
in Africa, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel of
experts gathered for this occasion urged African Parliamentarians and relevant
stakeholders to ensure that COVID-19 related emergency public spending measures
adhere to the highest levels of transparency and principles of good governance.
Hon. Sefako SEEMA, Board Rapporteur at the African
Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) engaged the virtual meeting on the
AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC). He reminded that
the main goal of the African Anti-corruption Day is 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.
“AUCPCC was adopted in Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July 2003 and came into
force in 2006. To date, it has been ratified by 44 AU Member States. Since
adoption of the Convention, states have made significant strides in the fight
against corruption including the enactment of national laws and the creation of
anti-corruption agencies. The theme chosen by the PAP is pertinent as this
year’s commemoration looked at the prevailing challenges of the COVID-19
pandemic by focusing on the demand for accountability and transparency in the
utilization of resources earmarked for the management of this crisis,” says
Hon. Seema.
Mr. Jeggan GREY-JOHNSON from Open Society Foundation-Africa
Regional Office (OSF – AfRO) said that the current health crisis has compelled
members of the PAP to optimally and effectively represent African citizens by
ensuring that the massive resources poured into this pandemic serve the people
through the implementation of AUCPCC among other frameworks. “This webinar
gives a platform for civil society to appeal to African Parliamentarians to
monitor that government responses to the crisis are sensitive to the needs of
our people. COVID-19 measures require more parliamentary
scrutiny. The continental Parliament has a duty to ensure that all measures
taken result in enhanced protection and support of the most vulnerable through
accountability and transparency.”
Mr. Paul BANOBA, Regional Advisor at Transparency
International, highlighted specific corruption avenues presented by COVID- 19
and the need for concerted efforts in curbing corruption. Mr. Banoba told the
webinar that the injection of sums of money into the economies by many African
governments to mitigate the impact of the pandemic created situations for
actors to engage in graft.” The rapid spread of the COVID-19 did not allow for
proper checks and balances to be put in place in the way resources are being
spent. The urgency of delivering assistance has, on many occasions,
circumvented standard procedures or overlooked transparency, particularly in
procurement. Participation from every stakeholder is essential in creating
appropriate measures to tackle corruption with parliamentary oversight at the
center of every action.”
Representing the Auditor General of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Ayodeji OGUNYEMI, Technical Advisor,
focused on evidence use and support of oversight function of Parliamentarians
in combatting corruption during COVID-19. The presentation covered the
relationship between parliamentary oversight and audit institutions in tackling
transgressions in the ongoing context and going forward. “Audit institutions
act as watchdogs for public expenditure under international Standards of
Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs). SAIs and parliaments are the two
most important players for holding governments to account for the use of public
funds and their mandates are complimentary. Their collaboration is crucial in
delivering accountability.”
Judge Virgile Rivert SAMBA-MOUSSINGA, Co-Founder
and Coordinator of the Pan-African Online Platform for Justice and Ethics (PAOP)
talked about the role of an independent and credible system. He reiterated how
crucial an effective justice system was in the fight against corruption. “Our
capacity to eradicate corruption depends on the strength of our judicial
system, acting without any interference from other powers of the state.
Unfortunately, the independence of the judiciary is still fragile on the
continent despite landmark rulings that recently given hopes in countries such
South Africa, Malawi or Kenya. The principle of separation of powers has to be
upheld to allow the judiciary to fully play its role in the fight against
corruption.”
The 4th edition of the African Anti-Corruption Day was held
under the theme “Fighting Corruption through Effective and Efficient Judicial
Systems.” The AU
declared 2018 the year of Combatting Corruption in Africa and earmarked 11 July
as African Anti-Corruption day. This declaration followed a clarion call to
action made by PAP, AUABC and CSOs in 2016 to recognize the forms of corruption
and eliminate opportunities that perpetuates it.
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