Photo Credit: Dirk Wagener - UNDP Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea Facebook Page
Anti-corruption efforts in Papua New Guinea have received a big boost from the European Union, which will invest €5.4 million (about K21.7 million) over three years.
Dirk Wagener, a national representative for the United Nations Growth Programme (UNDP), said during the inauguration of an anti-corruption program in Port Moresby that corruption has hampered Papua New Guinea's development.
“The European Union will provide €5.4 million to this project, in addition to the funding which will be made directly to the government of Papua New Guinea to implement key components of the government’s anti-corruption strategy and plan of action,” he said.
According to Wagener, the plan recognizes that fighting corruption is an essential prerequisite for national growth and is critical to ensuring that people receive the services and commodities that they are entitled to.
“It is, simply put, a precondition for achieving Papua New Guinea’s national development vision and aspirations.”
Corruption, he warned, would impede PNG's accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals if it was not tackled.
Wagener stated that the initiative would have four objectives aimed at strengthening local capacities to successfully combat corruption and that both government and non-governmental organizations would be involved:
- The first outcome is intended to aid in the execution and oversight of the national government's strategic plan of action.
- The second outcome will be the creation of a fully operating Independent Commission Against Corruption.
- The third outcome will concentrate on bolstering current anti-corruption investigation and prosecution agencies.
- The fourth outcome acknowledges the importance of the public and civil society in combating corruption.
“The project will work with the Royal PNG Constabulary’s national and provincial anti-corruption and fraud units and the office of the Public Solicitor,” Wagener said.
Transparency International PNG commended Papua New Guinea on the passage of the Organic Law Establishing an Independent Commission Against Corruption in November 2020.
“The campaign against corruption must be placed at the top of the agendas of our societies. Unless corruption is checked, it will poison our ways of life and corrode standards,” said chairman Peter Aitsi.
“At TIPNG, we welcome this law and the eventual establishment of the ICAC in our country. It is our hope that this body will further empower people in PNG to take action against corruption and work to protect the integrity of the people, society and nation of Papua New Guinea.”
He stated that the ICAC's key functions, once formed, would be to: Prevent and minimize corrupt conduct, conduct research, suggest systems, methods, practices, and policies; Investigate and prosecute corrupt conduct, and Arrest a person who has engaged in corrupt behavior.
Reference: Gwangilo, Phoebe. Asia Pacific Report (9 August 2021). “European Union gives PNG K21m boost for anti-corruption project”.
