Gambia prepares to table Anti-corruption bill by December

EWYEAFRICA TV: Banjul, The Gambia: President Adama Barrow said his government continues to be strongly concerned and committed to address the ragging corruption in the country through the preparation of an Anti-Corruption Bill.
Addressing the National Assembly in his 2019 State of the Nation address Thursday morning, Mr. Barrow said the Bill is at its completion stage and will be tabled before the National Assembly by December, for ratification.
The Bill will seek to establish an Anti-Corruption Commission to provide effective measures for eradication, suppression and prevention of corrupt practices in both private and public sectors in The Gambia.
The President’s address was more of his government steps and achievements but couldn’t make clear points on how his government intends to move the country.
During the former regime, Gambians face increasing poverty while corrupt practices grip government institutions that extended to the subjects. The situation still continues but many believed that the new Anti-Corruption Bill will be able to address that when it come to force.
Gambia have been ranked 93 least corrupt nations out of 175 countries in the 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. The report indicates that corruption rank in the country averaged 114.38 from 2003 until 2018, reaching an all-time high of 158 in 2008 and a record low of 77 in 2011.
The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. A country or territory’s rank indicates its position relative to the other countries and territories in the index.
The president also informed lawmakers that major oil companies are interested in exploring and commercialising the country’s hydrocarbon energy, saying licensing for block A2 and A5 isrequired to drill an exploration well before end of the year.