C/WEALTH, GOV’T TEAMING UP TO ESTABLISH ANT-CORRUPTION COMMISSION

The Commonwealth, the 54-member states body The Gambia is part, has decided to team up with the Government of The Gambia to establish an anti-corruption commission that would scrutinise individuals that hold assets or properties that are deemed public-owned. In a tête-à-tête meeting with journalists before he ended his first visit after eight years to The Gambia, Commonwealth secretary-general Kamalesh Sharma said the organisation has “entered a new chapter in its history of reform and renewal”. The Gambia is a “highly valued member [of the Commonwealth] with much to contribute and much to benefit in this new era,” Mr Sharma said. The Commonwealth is an intergovernmental organisation of 54 independent member states of which all members except Mozambique and Rwanda were part of the British Empire that led the founding of the organisation.

Pic: Kamalesh Sharma Whilst the Commonwealth has long been distinctive as an international forum where developed economies (such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand) and many of the world's poorer countries seek to reach agreement by consensus, it also aims at promoting wealth creation for citizens of member states. According to Mr Sharma, 95 recommendations for reform would be advanced, making reference to October last year’s meeting in Australia, in which the vice president was present. He pointed out that half of those recommendations, which include trade and debt relief management, is already on track of being implemented, while the other half is to be considered by a special Ministerial Task Force in June. “We also had very productive discussions about issues that are fundamental to the future development and prosperity of The Gambia,” he said, adding that these include Commonwealth support for trade; a stronger, better trained, and more effective public service; opportunities for youth enterprise; and ensuring that women have every possible opportunity to participate as leaders of change, growth and opportunity in society.” He also said there is also ongoing support for The Gambia through regional and other programmes in areas such as anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing; trade capacity-building among others. “The Commonwealth’s history is rooted in its opposition to discrimination on any grounds as well as the importance it attaches to equality, and these are undertakings by us all collectively and for us individually,” he added. Member states are on their national paths of progress towards a strong commitment to the values and principles of the Commonwealth, Mr Sharma noted, saying: “Democracy is not only a matter of well-functioning institutions of State and the balanced separation of power, but also a people-based culture in which strands of opinion can be heard”. The Anti-Corruption Commission will encourage self-regulation by enterprises in confronting issues of extortion and bribery and provides business input into international initiatives to fight corruption. During his visit, SG Sharma met with various ministers, National Assembly members, representatives of opposition political parties, the diplomatic and consular corps, the media and the UN systems.