S. Sudan parliament adopts anti-corruption report Article Comments (16) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Julius N. Uma September 8, 2011 (JUBA) – The South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission (SSACC) has officially presented its long-awaited annual report before the national assembly, amidst repeated calls for zero tolerance on corruption by the country’s president, Salva Kiir. South Sudan Anti-Corruption Committee chairperson, Pauline Riak (GoSS) The 83-page report, which was presented by Pauline Riak, the SSAC chairperson, explains the key activities undertaken by the body, achievements and the challenges they face in fulfilling its mandate. Also included in the report is the work plan and a four-year strategy. “The campaign to completely get rid of corruption from our society should largely be seen as a collective responsibility of the government and all its organs, including members of the general public,” said Riak. She noted that the body has already teamed up with various institutions, including the country’s audit chamber and other stakeholders to develop joint mechanisms to completely stamp out corruption. Under the country’s transitional constitution, which came into effect with the declaration of South Sudan’s independence on 9 July, SSACC has been mandated to prosecute anyone involved in corruption. Riak cited inadequate funding as one of major setbacks to the organisation’s activities, and appealed to the Government of South Sudan to allocate more funds to the commission. Kum Kum Geng, an assembly member, raised a motion calling for the adoption of the SSACC report, after prolonged deliberations at an assembly session chaired by Daniel Awet Akot, the deputy speaker. Wek Kuc Deng, the chairperson of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state anti-corruption commission said the adoption of the report was an important milestone in the fight against corruption. “The unanimous decision by the national assembly to adopt this anti-corruption report is a positive step in the right direction. The observations and amendments made will further strengthen and empower the commission to carry out its mandate as required by the public,” Deng told Sudan Tribune by phone from Aweil, the state capital. However, Daniel Deng, a civil society activist described the anti-corruption watchdog as a state formed institution that “lacks independence and is ever targeting small men”. “I don’t think the South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission has the power to prosecute corruption government officials as they want us to believe. They lack independence and that’s why they chase after less important people involved in petty crimes,” Deng said. While addressing the crowds celebrating South Sudan’s independence declaration, Kiir pledged zero-tolerance on corruption and that his new government, shall be driven by effective service delivery to citizens. Kiir reiterated this call during the 30 July Martyrs’ Day celebrations in Juba, the country’s capital. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
