INTERVENTION BY H.E. ADAMA BARROW
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA
ON THE THEME OF THE YEAR
"WINNING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: A SUSTAINABLE PATH TO AFRICA’S TRANSFORMATION"
DURING THE 31ST ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE & GOVERNMENT OF THE AU
HELD IN NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA
FROM 1ST TO 2ND JULY, 2018
Your Excellencies,
Corruption in both the public and private sectors negatively impact our national and continent’s development agendas.
The theme of the Summit is a bold statement of intent. Our continent has abundant human and natural resources, and we can improve in most key human development indicators, such as access to quality health and education for the youth population of the continent, food security and meaningful employment. Corruption has negative effect on African nations and how we can judiciously use our resources.
Mr. Chairperson,
Our successes in the fight against corruption will ensure that resources are retained and used to support structural transformations and expansion of our economies.
Our desire for sustainable growth and development in the critical sectors of our economies can only be realized if there is a diligent focus on progressive policies and huge resource investments. Therefore we cannot afford resource wastages through corruption thereby depriving our citizens the opportunities to improve their living standards.
We need to reform our legal and regulatory regimes, tax administration and procurement systems, to stamp combat corruption in our public, economic and business environments. It is imperative that we intensify our efforts to ensure that corrupt practices are systematically tackled and resources that are siphoned off recovered.
Our partnership with others should be reinforced to fully implement the Continental Strategic Plan on the Fight against Corruption. This process requires disbursement of adequate budgetary resources.
Mr. Chairperson,
My government is addressing the consequences of two decades of poor governance and misuse of State’s meager resources.
A Commission of Enquiry is ongoing and its revelations have shown the extent to which resources meant for national development were grossly misused and diverted by a small clique of unpatriotic and dishonest Gambians and their foreign partners in crime.
As a consequence, in moving forward, the guiding principle of my government is the exercise of good governance in all facets of public administration.
Concurrently, a National Anti-corruption Bill has been promulgated and an Anti-corruption Commission is being established.
In addition, The Gambia has signed the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (AUBC) in order to adopt best standards in the fight against corruption. We are determined in our quest for victory against corruption.
In conclusion, I must commend H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria for his presentation and leadership on the Theme of the year.
I thank you for your attention.