African
Union on Tuesday held the inaugural launching of African Anti-Corruption Day in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The
day is now a calendar event dedicated to giving prominence to the
anti-corruption fight on the continent.
The
AU Executive Council had declared 11 July of every year as the ‘African
Anti-Corruption Day’ to commemorate the adoption of the African Union
Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC).
The
chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat,
said the African continent’s fight against corruption marks an important step
towards making Africa less tolerant to corruption.
“We
need to wage aggressive fight against those who practise corruption and
institutions that benefit from the proceeds of corruption to restore public
trust in our institutions on the continent,” he said.
According
to Mahamat, due to the dedication of the AU in the fight against corruption in
the continent, next year, 2018, will be declared as the African anti-corruption
year.
“The
year will be celebrated under the theme ‘Winning the fight against corruption:
A Sustainable path to Africa’s transformation’,” he said.
The
AUC chairperson said: “Corruption is undoubtedly the most pressing governance
and development challenge that Africa is confronted with today as its
debilitating and corrosive effects reverse hard-won developmental gains and
threaten progress, stability and development of the continent.”
The
AU first adopted the AUCPCC by the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the
African Union on 11 July 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique.
By
ratifying the AUCPCC, all state parties to the convention are expected to
demonstrate their national legislative and policy instruments aimed at
combating corruption.
The
AUC chairperson urged all African countries to ratify and accede to the
convention in order to solidify the continent’s political commitment towards a
corrupt-free, citizen-driven, democratically governed Africa.