While the African Anti-Corruption Day takes place on July 11 every year, today 12/07/2023, Rwanda joined other countries in celebrating it in a consultative meeting held in Kigali organized by the Office of the Ombudsman in collaboration with the City of Kigali.
At the African level, the theme of this year 2023 is: “AUCPCC 20 Years after: Achievements” and Prospects).
This is the theme that Rwanda is celebrating when considering the achievements based on the agreement of the African Union to prevent and fight corruption, after 20 years.
The Chief Ombudsman of Rwanda Hon. Nirere Madeleine says that Rwanda as a ratified country, the conventions of the African Union to prevent and fight corruption, many actions, measures and strategies have been taken.
She said: “Due to the political will to fight corruption of the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Kagame Paul, the Institutions responsible for preventing and fighting corruption have been established, various laws have been established to prevent and punish corruption and other various measures and strategies.”
The Chief Ombudsman of Rwanda Nirere Madeleine says that Rwanda as a ratified country has adopted the conventions of the African Union to prevent and fight corruption, many actions, measures and strategies have been taken.
She said: “Due to the political will to fight corruption of the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Kagame Paul, the Institutions responsible for preventing and fighting corruption have been established, various laws have been established to prevent and punish corruption and other various measures and strategies.”
A baseline study conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman (2022) on the corruption gaps in the local government showed that internal weak control in the service delivery is the first cause of corruption at a rate of 48% in the District.
Some of the other strategies that the Chief Ombudsman came back to is that every year the Office of The Ombudsman organizes and holds a week dedicated to fight against corruption and the public is made aware of how they should avoid and report corruption, there is also an evaluation of the performance of Government (system review), Private, Civil Society and International Organizations working in Rwanda with the aim of analyzing whether the current laws and regulations are being respected and ensuring that each level has established solid measures to prevent and fight corruption, Annual receipt of assets (Assets declaration) of Officials and Civil Servants provided by law.
The Chief Ombudsman reiterated that the Anti-Corruption Day also helps Africa’s anti-corruption fighters share good lessons and practices. Asset recovery efforts are paying off in some member states.
“Focus on the prospects and what new strategies need to be deployed for accelerated and substantive results relating to minimizing corruption on the continent are paramount measures”. Chief Ombudsman added.
Africa loses money every year that goes to other countries illegally (illicit financial flow) amounting to 88.6 billion USD, which is equivalent to 3.7% of Africa’s GDP as announced in the Economic Development in Africa Report 2020 by UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). (End)