In the not distant past it was not an unusual thing to hear the nation’s wealth had been mercilessly siphoned by lechers.
Laundered in different forms some portion of the embezzled money is circulating in the country, while the rest is stashed away abroad. Reportedly, investigations are underway. As such, the cases of suspects are under scrutiny.
However, as probing into the case of corruption is an intricate and demanding one, the task of seeing to the return of the money made to outflow and holding suspects accountable is not bearing fruit at the required pace. This lethargy has opened a room for the complaint of citizens that the anti-corruption fight has slackened.
Following the transition by law of the Ministry of Justice Affairs into the Federal Attorney general’s office, among the tasks added to the latter are found leading and organizing investigations.
Accordingly, conducting and streamlining investigations on severe corruption cases, the attorney general is taking alleged culprits to court. Here, it suffices to mention the charge files it opened on Metals and Engineering Corporation, Water Works Construction Enterprise and FDRE Public Procurement and Administration Agency.
Hence, following works done last Ethiopian budget year to recoup such embezzled money, it was made possible 138 million Birr had got its way back to the government’s coffer. Also in less than a semester this Ethiopian budget year 50 million Birr in cash is reimbursed. Various activities to the same effect are underway.
In the same analysis, a strategic action plan is designed for the return of the money made to outflow from the country. Discussing with the countries where the embezzled money is deposited in different Banks a consensus is reached to effect the return of the money.
A Directorate that sees to the aforementioned task is established. The ball has begun rolling. This action calls for a tap on the back.
This Ethiopian budget year, the attorney general has vowed to throw its full weight behind recouping embezzled money, confiscating illegally owned property and, in general, fighting improprieties.
The complicatedness of corrupt practices goes without saying. Money and property have been made to run out of the country to various countries by depositing them using different names.
Needless to mention, a heavy-duty task is that awaits the country. In cognizance of this structural set ups in the economic, social and justice administration fronts are established that help fight and forestall improprieties.
The necessary information and evidence gathering task in the minimum possible time is well underway. Cautious and precautionary moves are necessary.
As the fight needs to straighten knotty cases, it is not a job that could be handled by the government alone. Therefore, to lend force to the anti-corruption fight, citizens have to tip pertinent bodies with well-organized information and evidences.
To play their due role both Ethiopians here and abroad have to play due role for the return of the embezzled money deposited abroad. Though works done so far are laudable still additional tasks are needed.
Parallel to this the nation has finalized preparations to set the ball of shaping the mindset of successors. This task for sure helps preempt moral decadence and resuscitates our former ethical standards, we Ethiopians are proud of.
It is a taskforce the country needs that fast track its growth not detractors. It is researches such as augmenting its foreign currency inflow either via increasing tourists’ influx or improving product and productivity the country needs not sabotages to bleed it dry sending its money outside for personal gains.
Not only in fighting corruption the manual prepared to stamp out improprities will be of immense significance but also for some conflicts that crop up here and there instigated by the impish that makes a frantic bid to maximize benefit at a cost of harm to citizens and the nation. Proponents of growth will triumph over detractors.
The Ethiopian Herald December 29/2019
