Commonwealth Africa countries plead to ‘safe haven’ countries to help in anti-graft fight
Kampala, Uganda (PANA) – A week-long conference of anti-corruption bosses from 16 Commonwealth African countries has concluded in Kampala with a call on countries that are safe havens for stolen money to help in the fight against corruption.
In a communique issued at the end of the conference on Friday, the countries urged governments around the world where safe havens for stolen money are to help in ensuring a speedy repatriation of recovered assets to Africa.
The communique says: “(We) request Heads of Government in Europe, America and other jurisdictions to work towards speedy and unfettered repatriation of recovered assets to African countries.”
Uganda assumed the leadership of the Association, with Justice Irene Mulyagonja, the Inspector General of Government of Uganda, assuming its headship. She will be deputised by Mr Anestase Murekezi, Head of Ombudsman of Rwanda.
The conference was co-organised by Uganda’s Inspectorate of Government, which is charged with fighting official corruption in the country, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.
During a press conference to close the conference, Mulyagonja talked up the need for a united front for the fight against corruption on the African continent.
Mauritius was pointed to as one safe haven for stolen money. Ms Shakilla jhungeer, who represented the head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Mauritius, however, said her country’s agencies work closely with ‘sister’ agencies in Commonwealth Africa to investigate such claims.
“If the money is linked to crime we use the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) we have had with other countries to follow up using agencies FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit), the Integrity Reporting Services Agency and others,” she said.
Dr Roger Koranteng, Adviser and Head, Public Sector Governance at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, highlighted a worrying figure by the African Union, which shows that the continent loses US$148bn to corruption annually.
-0- PANA EM/AR 11May2019
