Anti-Corruption International The Gambia on Friday validated commercial corruption risk assessment research conducted by the organization. The conducted research was on commercial sector corruption mapping out priorities draft action plan and increases the sectors participation in national anti-corruption initiatives.
The one day event was sponsored by UNODC.
Addressing the stakeholders, Michael O. Davies, executive director ACI-The Gambia stated that anti-corruption initiative is the only way to vigorously campaign for implementation of national, regional and international anti-corruption recommendations in The Gambia.
“Private investors, state own enterprises and the informal economy actors (require adequate anti-corruption knowledge and shared learning to enhance their capacity and build strong institutions,” he told participants.
Mr Davies pointed out that the private sector role in the fight against corruption cannot be relegated because of the sectors’ impact on sustainable development and the strengthen it brings to increase number of citizen oversight groups in holding the public service actors accountable.
He also said the private sector role in ensuring transparency, accountability and integrity in building strong institutions is of concern to the organization.
“Anti-corruption initiative is not new in The Gambia. The 1997 Constitution has several clauses on corruption. Despite this, implementation of national anti-corruption laws, regional and international treaties recommendations is continually ignored in the commercial sector with devastating consequences on doing business in the Gambia.
What is new is the scale and nature of the challenges. The number of Gambians and non-Gambians directly affected by graft is growing with a neglectful attitude and the increasing number of denials. The Gambia anti-corruption efforts are minimal and discriminatory having too much focus on the public sector,” he pointed out.
According to him, the organization is currently working to find new ways using anti-corruption knowledge and shared learning as a new tool to encourage the inclusive approach to fight corruption plus integration of anti-corruption tools into doing business.
He revealed that the private sector in The Gambia is facing all forms of graft risks, including increasing illicit activities, trade malpractices, patronage, money laundering, devious political party financing and other types of illegal activities, this is criminality fuel by disregards to firm adherence to a code of conduct.
“Appreciatively, there is also an exciting new opportunity to make the changes and end to corruption a reality. A vibrant anti-corruption movement is emerging fifty-five years after independence and twenty-two years after the authoritarian rule of the former President Yahya Jammeh. The Gambia finally assented to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), concluded its first cycle obligation under the UNCAC and currently implementing the second cycle review. These are encouraging signs of national commitment,” he said.
He added that “The organizations’ Private Sector Corruption Risk Assessment” is therefore, an attempt to seek and find the corruption causing factors, understand the impact of corruption on private investments, state own enterprises and informal economy sectors.
We recognized the scale of the challenges, and we realized that we could not achieve our goals without building a network and cooperative relationship with the private sector and donor agencies. But by conducting and validating a “Private Sector Corruption Risk Assessment”, we have committed to working with stakeholders, donors and partner associations to fill the gaps, double the role of the private sector in the fight against corruption and contribute to building a strong business community.”
