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Guinea’s Struggle to Combat Corruption: A Mixed Bag of Progress and Challenges

Conakry, Guinea - Despite efforts to combat corruption in Guinea, the country still faces numerous challenges in implementing anti-corruption measures.

Public Procurement and Management of Public Finances

The 2017 Law on the Prevention, Detection, and Repression of Corruption and Related Offences outlines rules and standards for public procurement, including anti-corruption mechanisms. The public finance governance framework and national budget law set out procedures for adopting the national budget and deadlines for timely communication of state expenditure and revenue. However:

  • The public procurement code is not well-known.
  • The citizen budget is only available in electronic format, limiting access for those outside urban areas.

Access to Information and Participation

The Law on the Right of Access to Public Information defines modalities for accessing public information. However:

  • There are no mechanisms for publishing information from periodic reports on corruption risks within the public administration.
  • The law protects freedom of expression but is accompanied by restrictions.
  • Weak application and lack of awareness among the public have hindered access to information.

Anti-Money Laundering

The Law on the Fight against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing regulates the fight against money laundering in Guinea, drawing inspiration from regional and multilateral organizations. However:

  • The roles of various players are not known to the public, as this is considered a state secret.
  • Civil society actors have been involved in raising awareness and evaluating processes, but transparency in the operation of the judicial system remains a challenge.

Measures for Direct Recovery of Property

The UNCAC requires states to take measures for direct recovery of property. Guinea has provisions in place, including the AML/FT Act and Anti-Corruption Act, which define powers and procedures for international cooperation. However:

  • Proving application is difficult due to lack of transparency and withholding information.

Key Recommendations

To ensure effective implementation of the UNCAC, Association Guinéenne pour la Transparence recommends:

  1. Lead an assessment of Guinea’s implementation of Chapters II and V of the Convention.
  2. Promote stakeholder inclusion in the country evaluation process.
  3. Develop and update tools for combating corruption and its consequences.
  4. Strengthen powers and independence of law enforcement agencies.
  5. Increase popularization, dissemination, and appropriation of texts governing good governance.
  6. Organize awareness and advocacy campaigns among decision-makers.
  7. Continue strengthening coordination mechanisms and instruments for promoting good governance.
  8. Strengthen capacities of those involved in the fight against money laundering.
  9. Create a court specializing in economic, financial crimes, and predicate offenses of corruption and money laundering/terrorist financing.

Conclusion

Guinea has made efforts to combat corruption, but challenges persist. The government must prioritize transparency, accountability, and stakeholder involvement to effectively implement anti-corruption measures. International cooperation and support are crucial for Guinea’s fight against corruption.