Burkina Faso/8th African Anti-Corruption Day: whistleblower protection at the heart of the celebrations
Like the rest of the African community, Burkina Faso is celebrating the 8th African Anti-Corruption Day on July 11, 2024. The High Authority for State Control and the Fight against Corruption (ASCE-LC) celebrated the day with a public conference on the theme of this 2024 edition: "Effective measures to protect whistleblowers: an essential tool in the fight against corruption". Anti-corruption organizations, students from the Ecole Nationale de l'Administration et de la Magistrature (ENAM), and bodies such as the gendarmerie, police, customs, water and forests took part in this public conference on the fight against corruption.
The African Union (AU) has declared July 11 of each year "African Anti-Corruption Day". The African Union Advisory Council in charge of monitoring the implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (CUAPLCC), has chosen "Effective measures for the protection of whistle-blowers: an essential tool in the fight against corruption" as the theme for this year's celebration: "Effective measures to protect whistleblowers: an essential tool in the fight against corruption".
It was around this theme that the day was celebrated in Burkina Faso. According to Mamoudou Drabo, head of the national prevention strategy department, representing the ASCE-LC deputy controller general acting as controller general, this celebration is placed "under the banner of the fight against corruption".is placed "under the prism of reflection and action, to help eradicate this evil that hinders the development and prosperity of our various nations and the continent". "Corruption has a sinister reputation as a poison that kills our institutions, undermines citizens' confidence in their leaders, and diverts public resources from essential services such as education, health and infrastructure. As a result, it will exacerbate inequalities and prevent an equitable distribution of wealth, plunging millions of our fellow citizens into poverty," he maintains.
"In light of the perverse effects of corruption, we can safely say that the whole world is more than unanimous that corruption, in all its forms, constitutes a serious threat to stability, security and economic growth. This is why it is our duty to commit ourselves firmly and unconditionally to the fight against this pernicious evil", added Mamoudou Drabo.
In his speech, Mamoudou Drabo stressed the importance of choosing this theme, saying that the protection of whistleblowers is one of the fundamental tools in the fight against corruption. "Indeed, effective protection measures can not only encourage the denunciation of corrupt acts, but also strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in institutions. However, a number of challenges remain, including the fear of reprisals that can dissuade individuals from reporting corruption, the ineffectiveness of certain measures deemed somewhat bureaucratic, and the lack of awareness-raising to fill this gap. But to be fully effective, these measures must be integrated into a solid legal framework, backed up by reliable reporting mechanisms and complemented by adequate psychological and legal support", he added.
In this respect, according to the head of the ASCE-LC's national prevention strategy department, a preliminary draft law on the protection of whistle-blowers has been drawn up by anti-corruption stakeholders and is in the process of being adopted. In his view, its adoption will enable Burkina Faso not only to comply with international standards on the subject, but also to better protect whistleblowers and boost whistleblowing activity itself.
According to Mamoudou Drabo, to combat corruption, it is also essential to strengthen judicial institutions and guarantee their independence, so that they can prosecute those responsible without fear of reprisal. "This also means promoting transparency and accountability at all levels of governance, by encouraging access to information and actively involving civil society and the media. Education will therefore play a key role in this fight against corruption, as the need to raise awareness among our young people of the values of integrity, honesty and justice is more than topical. Through these types of campaigns, we intend to shape a culture of ethics and responsibility for the benefit of tomorrow's Burkinabè," he said.
In addition to this public conference, an aerobics session and a blood donation will also mark the celebration of this 8th African Anti-Corruption Day.
Source: lefaso.net/
