Bhutan’s Anti-Corruption Commission Struggles with Staff Stability and Corruption Complaints

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Thimphu, Bhutan - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bhutan is facing significant challenges in its fight against corruption. Despite its efforts to address these issues, the commission continues to struggle with staff stability and a backlog of corruption complaints.

Staff Stability Concerns

The ACC’s staff stability has been a major concern, with a high attrition rate and a shortage of specialized skills. As of December 2019, the total staff strength of the ACC was 119, short of its approved outlay of 140 for the year. The Department of Prevention and Education was particularly understaffed, with only 19 staff members against a projected strength of 23.

• In 2018 alone, 17 staff members left the commission, further exacerbating the shortage.
• The ACC’s Chairperson highlighted the challenges in retaining staff, citing the lack of specialized skills and high turnover rate.

Corruption Complaints Backlog

The ACC has also been criticized for its responsiveness to corruption complaints. There is a backlog of complaints qualified for investigation, leading to concerns that the commission is not doing enough to tackle corruption effectively.

• The ACC’s Chairperson emphasized the need for more resources and support to address this issue.
• The commission is focusing on recruitment and expects to achieve its projected staff strength of 152 by the end of July 2020.

Efforts to Address Challenges

To address these concerns, the ACC has increased its annual budget for the financial year 2019-2020 by 6.15% to Nu. 142.03 million (approximately USD 2.02 million).

• The commission is also relying less on development partners for capacity development programs and more on the Royal Government for support.
• An ACC spokesperson emphasized the commission’s commitment to fighting corruption and promoting transparency and accountability in Bhutan.

Conclusion

The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bhutan faces significant challenges in its fight against corruption. Despite these challenges, the commission remains committed to building capacity and ensuring its staff have the necessary skills to tackle corruption effectively. The ACC recognizes that this is an ongoing challenge, but it is committed to making progress and ensuring that its efforts do not falter.

“We are working hard to build capacity and ensure our staff have the necessary skills to tackle corruption effectively,” said an ACC spokesperson. “We recognize that this is an ongoing challenge, but we are committed to making progress and ensuring that our efforts do not falter.”