ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSIONS IN AFRICA: TIME FOR A CHANGE OF DIRECTION

Hatchard, John (2016) ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSIONS IN AFRICA: TIME FOR A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. ZAMBIAN OPEN UNIVERSITY LAW JOURNAL, 1 (1). pp. 45-78. ISSN 2414-2786

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Abstract

Anti-corruption agencies (ACCs) in Africa have been called 'frolics in failure'. Whilst the UN Convention Against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption do not require the introduction of stand-alone agencies, many African states have adopted the Hong Kong model derived from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The article examines why the ICAC model has failed in African states and argues that there is a need to re-examine the mandate of ACCs. New approaches are suggested based a comparison of the Kenya Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the ACC in Zambia. It is argued that ACCs need to develop and/or focus on playing a good governance/integrity and oversight role with a view to supporting public officials. This includes overseeing the effectiveness of good governance constitutional safeguards.

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