Bhutan Fights Corruption: Anti-Corruption Commission Prioritizes High-Risk Cases Amid Challenges
Intensifying Efforts to Combat Corruption
Thimphu, Bhutan - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bhutan is stepping up its fight against corruption, focusing on high-risk cases and implementing measures to enhance integrity systems. Despite maintaining a score of 68 for the fifth consecutive year in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2022, the ACC recognizes the urgent need to strengthen governance mechanisms and ensure greater accountability.
Awareness Campaigns and Public Engagement
To address the challenge of changing public attitudes towards corruption, the ACC has launched extensive awareness campaigns, introduced the myACC app, and utilizes social media accounts for easy reporting. Collaborations with civil society and media are also crucial in shifting public attitudes and building a corruption-free society.
Capacity Building and Staff Development
However, ensuring the capacity of ACC staff to deal with evolving corruption risks remains a major challenge. To tackle this, the ACC enhances its Intelligence-Based Investigation approach, prioritizing cases based on strategic intelligence and focusing on those involving substantial public funds or national significance.
Retaining Skilled Personnel and Maintaining a Conducive Working Environment
Another significant hurdle is retaining skilled personnel while maintaining a conducive working environment with adequate incentives. The ACC has implemented various staff welfare schemes and social security measures to address these challenges.
Challenges in Combating Corruption
According to National and International reports, Bhutan’s efforts to combat corruption have not shown significant improvement. The country was ranked 25th least corrupt in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2022, maintaining a score of 68 for the fifth consecutive year.
Strategic Anti-Corruption Roadmap 2021-2030
The ACC is dedicated to contributing to Bhutan’s long-term national goal outlined in its Strategic Anti-Corruption Roadmap 2021-2030. The Commission is currently embedding interventions highlighted in the roadmap into the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Whistleblowers and Confidentiality
Whistleblowers play a crucial role in the fight against corruption, and maintaining their confidentiality is paramount. The ACC encourages everyone to report corruption freely without inhibition, with various platforms available for reporting.
High-Risk Areas and Systematic Studies
The Commission has identified high-risk areas, including:
- Resources management
- Contract administration
- Natural resources
- Personnel matters
Systematic studies are conducted in these areas, and relevant recommendations are being made for implementation by agencies.
Prevention Advisories and Corruption Risk Management Tool
To address vulnerabilities, the ACC issues prevention advisories called “Denkuel” to highlight potential corruption risks and strategies to mitigate them. The Commission also implements the Corruption Risk Management tool to facilitate mainstreaming of risk-based integrity measures in various agencies.
Business Integrity Initiative and General Advocacy
The Business Integrity Initiative of Bhutan has been introduced since 2017, with 15 portfolio companies and listed companies of Druk Holding and Investments Ltd (DHI) formalizing their commitment to promote ethical businesses. The ACC continues to carry out general advocacy and awareness programs for target audiences, aiming to ensure the sustainability of integrity measures.
Conclusion
The ACC’s efforts are crucial in addressing corruption risks in Bhutan and ensuring greater accountability and transparency within the nation. With ongoing challenges, prioritization of high-risk cases is essential to make a significant impact.