Ghana launches UNCAC implementation review
Ms Lauretta Lamptey, Chairperson of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), on Thursday launched the review of the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Accra.
The Convention introduces a comprehensive set of standards, measures and rules that all countries can apply in order to strengthen their legal and regulatory regimes to fight corruption.
It calls for preventive measures and the criminalisation of the most prevalent forms of corruption in public and private sectors.
UNCAC came into force on December 14, 2005; with a Conference of the States Parties established to review implementation and facilitate activities required by the Convention.
Ghana signed the convention in 2003 and finally ratified it in 2007.
Ms Lamptey said the threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermines the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardise sustainable development and the rule of law.
She said across the globe, corruption weakens good governance and makes more people poorer.
She said the fight against corruption is a difficult task and urged all and sundry to join in the fight against it.
The Commissioner said the country is due to be reviewed this year by experts from Rwanda and Swaziland, which is a national issue which all must support.
She expressed gratitude to donor agencies for their support over the years in the fight to combat corruption.
Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ and Chairman of the UNCAC Steering Committee of the Ghana Review said: “The evils of corruption are well known and documented, and no nation has yet escaped its ravaging effect although some have demonstrated that they have learnt lessons from their encounter with corruption”.
He said the causes of corruption in Africa are rooted in weak institutional structures, processes and capacities of countries.
“The review process, inter alia, seeks to promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more efficiently and effectively, promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption, including in asset recovery and promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property,” the Deputy Commissioner stated.
He said Ghana must begin to demonstrate that she has learnt her lessons from corruption, declaring: “We have turned a blind eye too often to corruption. We have encouraged corrupt practices too often to gain political advantage. We have paid lip service for far too long”.
Mr Charles Ayamdoo, Anti-Corruption Director of CHRAJ and UNCAC Focal Point Person said the country would be reviewed in the areas of criminalisation and law enforcement; and international cooperation.
He said Ghana’s Report would be submitted on July 15, to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime for on warding submission to review experts in Rwanda and Swaziland.
Mr Ayamdoo noted that challenges facing the steering committee include difficulties in obtaining statistics.
Source: GNA