Martin Amidu
A high-level international conference on ways to recover assets arising out of corruption, has opened in Abuja, Nigeria, under the theme, “Partnering towards assets recovery and its return.”
It is meant for Heads of Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Agencies in Africa to strategize on how to trace all proceeds of corruption by public officials in Commonwealth Africa.
In the case of Ghana, it is being attended by anti-corruption crusaders like the Special Prosecutor, Martin A.B.K. Amidu and the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), K.K. Amoah, other top security operatives and anti-graft bodies.
Other important personalities attending the confab are Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland; former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki; Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria; former Head of State of Nigeria, Gen Yakubu Gowon; Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka of Nigeria and a host of others.
Heads of 19 anti-corruption agencies in Commonwealth countries in Africa will gather in Nigeria this week for their annual general meeting.
The summit, which takes place between 14 and 18 May, will be opened by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
A news release from the Commonwealth Secretariat stated, “Heads will exchange ideas and good practices to tackle corruption in their countries.
“The Commonwealth Secretariat used its convening powers in 2011 to establish the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa. In 2013, it set up the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre (CAACC) in partnership with the Botswana government to provide training and knowledge sharing.
“The Secretariat continues to provide critical, targeted technical assistance and resident experts which expand the knowledge and operational effectiveness of national anti-corruption agencies. These improve their ability to perform and help to not only tackle corruption, but also recover assets. In turn, they are important in helping to deliver the sustainable development goals.”
Whilst in Ghana on the occasion of the 61st Independence anniversary celebration in March, Nigeria’s President Buhari said he was going to collaborate with his Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the fight against corruption.