Financial Crime World

Here is the article in markdown format:

The Gambia’s Efforts to Combat Corruption

Despite progress in strengthening anti-corruption laws and institutions, corruption remains a major challenge in The Gambia. This article provides an overview of The Gambia’s efforts to combat corruption and highlights areas that require further attention.

Anti-Corruption Laws and Institutions

The Criminal Offences Bill, when enacted into law, will consolidate and revise existing laws on criminal offenses, including those related to corruption. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is an independent institution established under the 1997 Constitution to investigate and prosecute corruption cases.

Challenges Facing the ACC

However, the ACC has faced challenges in its operations due to lack of resources and interference from government officials. Despite these challenges, The Gambia has made progress in strengthening its anti-corruption laws and institutions.

Progress Made

In 2019, the National Assembly adopted a new law on access to information, which will enable citizens, journalists, and civil society organizations to easily access government data. The Anti-Corruption Bill 2019 is also a significant step forward in the fight against corruption.

Key Provisions of the Anti-Corruption Bill

  • Establishes the Anti-Corruption Commission as an independent national institution with statutory authority to investigate and prosecute corruption cases.
  • Gives the commission powers to investigate, prosecute, prevent, and recover assets related to corruption.
  • Contains provisions for the protection of whistleblowers who provide information on corruption offenses.

Corruption Remains a Challenge

Despite these efforts, corruption remains prevalent in various sectors including public administration, judiciary, law enforcement, and the private sector. According to Transparency International, corruption is a major challenge that requires further attention.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there have been efforts to strengthen anti-corruption laws and institutions in The Gambia, more work needs to be done to effectively combat corruption.

References

  • US Department of State 2017
  • Freedom House 2018
  • Transparency International Corruption Helpdesk Answer; The Gambia: Overview of corruption and anti-corruption.
  • The Access to Information draft Bill 2019
  • African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX); 8 July 2020