Pascoal Joaquim, the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) vice chairman, issued this appeal at a swearing-in ceremony of four advisory board members in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
AUABC board member Kwami Senanu, stood in for the chairman, saying corruption is one of the biggest challenges in many African countries, hence the need to join hands and work together in combating it.
He underscored the need for newly elected members of the board to identify the sources to combat corruption beyond their national boundaries, affirming that AUABC is aware of corrupt leaders on the continent.
The board needs to commit itself to combat corruption, as aspiration to leadership should not be treated as a business enterprise, but those wishing to lead have to focus on “the true essence of leadership,” he stressed.
AUABC members need to understand that good governance is not readily available as it must be demanded, he said, asking board members to focus on putting mechanisms in place to compel top government officials to establish viable anti-corruption units.
Hard work and dedication is required to realize the vision of the AU in that regard as the continent’s resources are not limited, so the newly elected members must grasp the immediacy of their responsibilities, he stated.
Representing their various countries is no longer sufficient, he said, noting that AUABC serves as a forum for member states to compare legislation on combating illicit practices, addressing the absence of such laws in certain countries.
He highlighted the importance of fostering values such as hard work, self-discipline, honesty and integrity, particularly in the upbringing of children. In so doing, ten years from now Africa shall have a generation free from corruption, he projected.
Principe Ntibasume, a board member from Burundi, said the members will work closely with the AUABC board to contribute more in the fight against corruption.
Corruption is a global phenomenon and a danger to the development of any country but the challenge is worse in Africa, this it is everybody’s duty to pull up together and combat corruption, he told the audience.
“Corruption is an obstacle towards any country's development, we should work hard and dedicate ourselves to fight it,” he urged.
The AUABC welcomed four new members, comprising three ladies, to fortify their anti-corruption board, designed to take up 11 members, with the newly elected members named as Erica Ndlovu from Botswana, Abeba Menegst from Ethiopia, Marthe Boulangar from Chad and Cheikh Baba Ahmed from Mauritania.
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