By Ernest Bako WUBONTO
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, the German Development Agency (GIZ) and European Union (EU) have allocated funds to establish a forensic laboratory and audiovisual interview centres to support investigations into economic crimes.
Programme Director for Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD), Astrid Kohl, revealed that this initiative falls under the PAIReD programme implemented by GIZ Ghana and co-funded by the EU.
This critical digital infrastructure investment is to enable the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) and other security services to operate digitally and conduct online or visual investigations in a professional manner as well as get accurate results from forensic analysis.
She indicated that a chunk of the €12.7million-budgeted PAIReD programme will finance advanced forensic equipment and digital interview rooms to facilitate professional, technology-driven investigations.
The initiative also includes digitising 30 Circuit Courts nationwide by introducing digital case management systems. This move is expected to minimise human interference, expedite corruption trials and ensure accountability.
“The first part of this programme is a project co-funded by the GIZ and EU to assist OSP and EOCO set up an advanced forensic lab and a digital-oriented audiovisual interview room,” she said.
Additionally, she said: “The digitalisation component ‘s third part is to contribute to the creation of 30 digital Circuit Courts. So, we will work together with 30 Circuit Courts across the country in setting up digital case management systems to reduce the human factor in processing corruption-related cases”.
With ongoing investigations by the OSP revealing that some former government officials under investigation are out of the country and will not be back for three months and over, the availability of such digital infrastructure could facilitate virtual interviews to gather the required information.
Commissioner-Commission on Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ) Joseph Whittal, on his part, mentioned that resourcing anti-corruption institutions in the country has always been a challenge; hence the timely intervention of the PAIReD programme, especially the provision of digital facilities and capacity building of staff within related institutions, will go a long way to help in the fight against looting of state resources for personal gain.
He further highlighted some legal reforms that are required in the fight against corruption, such as the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. He urged government to prioritise passage of the Conduct of Public Officers bill.
“Building capacity of anti-corruption actors is very important and for us at the CHRAJ, this support is a welcome one to help us in the fight against corruption. We need to build capacity in the type of legal reforms required to fight corruption; for instance, the code of conduct for public officers and witness protection law among others, to protect the citizens and know how to hold public officers accountable,” he said.
The code of conduct for public officers typically sets out values, principles and standards of acceptable ethical behaviour and conduct. Such codes are important pillars for the entrenchment of good governance principles and are used to combat corruption, enhance public confidence, public accountability and integrity in the Public Service.
Article 284, Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that: “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with performing the functions of his office”.
A ‘conflict of interest’ refers to a situation where a public official’s interest conflicts with or is likely to conflict with performing the functions of his/her office. Closely related to conflict of interest is compliance with Declaration of assets and liabilities under Article 286 (1) of the Constitution and Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).
