Citizens Gain Confidence in Anti-Corruption Commission

The Bhutanese Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has made significant strides in gaining public trust, with a recent survey revealing an 85% confidence level among respondents. This marks a notable improvement from previous years, indicating a growing faith in the commission’s ability to combat corruption.

Commitment to Transparency and Accountability

The ACC has been praised for its commitment to transparency and accountability. The commission’s members are appointed by the King for a fixed five-year term, ensuring their independence and impartiality. Additionally, the ACC is guided by an Ethical Code of Conduct, which emphasizes professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality among other values.

Budget Allocation

The commission’s financial stability has also been assured through its budget allocation. For the financial year 2019-2020, the ACC received a budget of Nu. 142.03 million (approximately USD 2.02 million), marking an increase of 6.15% compared to the previous financial year.

Challenges Ahead

Despite these achievements, the ACC still faces challenges in terms of staff strength and retention. As of December 2019, the commission’s total staff strength was 119, against its approved outlay of 140 for the year. The commission is working towards recruiting more professionals with appropriate skills to achieve its mandate.

Capacity Development

The ACC has been continuously developing the capacity of its staff through short-term and long-term programs. For 2019 alone, 59 capacity development programs were availed, including in-country and ex-country training programs.

Support from Stakeholders

Despite the challenges faced by the commission, it continues to receive support from various stakeholders, including the Royal Government, development partners, and other regional agencies.

Survey Results

The survey results indicate that a significant majority of respondents believe that the commission is effective in its efforts to prevent and investigate corruption cases. This growing trust in the commission’s ability to tackle corruption is a testament to its dedication and commitment to eradicating this social evil from our society.

Conclusion

The Bhutanese Anti-Corruption Commission has made significant progress in gaining public confidence, with a recent survey revealing an 85% confidence level among respondents. The commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability, as well as its efforts to develop the capacity of its staff, have been instrumental in achieving this milestone.