By Mary Poni
Stakeholders have reviewed and resolved to validate the South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission act 2009 to enable the commission perform its functions effectively.
During the opening session of the stakeholder’s validation meeting in Juba, the Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol said the amendment and reviewing of relevant laws that are profound with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan has a role to play.
He said the validation of the Anti-Corruption Commission act not only facilitates the implementation of the agreement but also regulates the entire legal foundation of the specialized legalization of the review during the transitional period.
Abdelbagi said the delay in the implementation of the agreement is not a good thing nor a good sign for the people of South Sudan including those in diaspora are not happy because of the lack of political will.
“We have delayed for more than three years now without moving forward,” he stated.
The VP said despite the fact that they are working together, they want to make sure that they are going to push the 24 months and ensure that all the remaining provisions and tasks are implemented.
“We are going to work majorly to review the implementation according to the matrix that we have,” he acknowledged.
“I want to assure everyone that we are going to take a step of seriousness to implement the agreement such that we can be on the same page with the other countries in the world,” he stated.
The chairperson of South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission Ngor Kolong said that the reform of the anti-corruption is one of the set goals of the revitalized peace agreement which was a backup by political will from the President of the republic of South Sudan.
“We did nothing for more than four years now and it is because we are lacking so many things which include funding and the commission office is shut down due to rental pay for more than one year and a half,” he said.
Kolong said the current South Sudan Anti-Corruption act was enacted in 2009 and so there is a need to go for a new one arguing that the act of 2009 is not up to the international standard like the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
“Since the other countries in the regions have started fighting corruption, it is also our mandate to fight it in our country and there is a need to amend and include the provisions that protect the complements and weaknesses on anti-corruption officers and the wish of laws of anti-corruption.”
He further said there a need to review the current Anti-Commission Act to empower and motivate them including the workers as in the regions for example in Kenya, the last person in government institution office is receiving five hundred US dollars ($500).
“I appeal to the most support of the NCRC to achieve the mandate and called for support to the South Sudan anti-corruption commission which is facing many challenges,” Kolong noted.
He said amending this law and working together to review it will change the face of this country.