Recently, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed while addressing the inagural ceremony of the new government stressed that the government will seriously fight corruption and other related malpractices that will challenge the nation in a wide range of areas. Furthermore, Ethiopia managed to pass through a number of twists and turns to reach where it is in the present day. Against this backdrop, all Ethiopians need to actively participate in the new government and play their part in achieving the growth and development goals of the nation.
Noting the impact of corruption on the economy, fighting against corruption and other malpractices would be the administration’s top priority. The premier reiterated the readiness of the government to take Ethiopia to a higher place in all social, economic, political, and diplomatic spheres. In order to achieve development in all arenas and address the bundle of political and economic problems that emanated from previous regimes, it needs the concerted efforts of the government and the general public.
In a similar manner, the premier calls on citizens to focus on developing rich natural and other unexploited resources to prosper the nation. He as well urged pertinent bodies to discharge their roles in fighting against corruption and malpractices. He made this remark while offering training to the newly appointed government executives at the African Leadership Excellence Academy. “Enduring external pressures and passing tough internal challenges with a firm spirit to achieve set goals enable all of us to appear victorious in battles for prosperity.” he added.
By the same token, he strongly urged his executives to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently in leading the nation towards the aspired prosperity by serving the public with great commitment by abhorring and fighting corruption.
Establishing strong institutions that fight against corruption is a lasting solution to prevent the recurrence of the problems witnessed in the past many years alongside ensuring the rule of law across the nation. Ensuring the rule of law in a country impacts on making policies flourish or perish and everyone should be accountable for the actions they take. Currently, as the country is heading towards a democratic process, the new road will guarantee the prevention of such corrupt practices across the nation and have a significant contribution to the prosperity of the country.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) assistant professor Adam Kamil said that the government needs to strongly fight against corruption and other related malpractices that are facilitated and experienced for the past many years. For the past many years corruption, theft and lack of good governance was highly experienced and the new administration needs to fight against those malpractices in collaboration with the public by conducting a discussion with relevant stakeholders from each level.
According to the Assistant Professor, the effective fight against corruption, theft, and other related malpractices will open the door for the country to take a new path of change, and the newly established administration needs to implement and prioritize its role of fighting theft and malpractice.
Over the past 27 years, the Ethiopian people suffered a lot owing to corruption and malpractices. Corruption, theft, and malpractices were among the factors for the failure of the terrorist TPLF group. Reasoning from this fact, the new leadership needs to fight against those malpractices so as not to repeat the past misery facing the people of Ethiopia.
According to Adam Kamil, the new leadership should be aware of this and fight against theft and corruption.. On the other hand, the government needs to eliminate the practice of capital flight which was being done in the past administration. The government should learn from the TPLF terrorist group that it is no longer possible to squander the country’s resources and use them for personal gain. Taking appropriate measures and didactic penalties against those who breach the law is very important so as to save the country from risk and build the country free from malpractices.
Different public institutions, including land administration, Customs and revenue, construction, municipalities, and other administrative offices are among the public institutions which are prone to corruption in Ethiopia.
The federal ethics and anti-corruption commission is also doing its level best to achieve the development goal by eradicating corruption and malpractices. The activity of establishing ethics liaison units in all government institutions and following up their performance by providing them the necessary support is also implemented by the institution in the past year.
Training focusing on the ten-year strategic plan, national anti-corruption of the commission strategic plan, the amended asset disclosure and registration performance directives, and other related activities were conducted in the past fiscal year. Asset disclosure and registration activity which is aiming at strengthening the bond and creating mutual trust between the public and the government is applicable to elected persons, government appointees, and public servants. Accordingly the assets of more than 1.5 million elected persons, government appointees, public servants across the nation except for Afar and Somali regions.
The Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission in collaboration with different stakeholders is conducting the survey and formulate policy in Ethiopia to reduce corruption and other related malpractices throughout the country.
The new leadership and the ongoing reform process are also prioritized to fight against corruption and malpractices. Besides, general directions have been set for combating corruption during the reform process by formulating a comprehensive national anti-corruption policy. The government should be committed and take bigger responsibility to reduce corruption with a clear strategy and strict law enforcement in collaboration with stakeholders and the general public.
BY HAILE DEMEKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD OCTOBER 13/2021
