GACC, UNCAC PROJECT & UNCAC

REVIEW PROCESS IN GHANA

Engagement of civil society in the fight against corruption

28TH AUGUST 2013

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

OBrief on GACC ActivitiesOUNCAC Review process & CSO

involvementOUsefulness of Training on UNCAC in

ViennaOProject on SMEs & UNCAC Review

Process

GHANA ANTI-CORRUPTION COALITION

OCoalition of Independent Public Institutions, Private Sector, CSOs & Think Tanks involved in anti-corruption work;

OConducts Research, Advocacy, Capacity Building, Awareness Creation;

OBuilds Strategic Partnership in the fight against corruption;

O Formed Local anti-Corruption Networks to ensure the bottom-up approach connecting districts, and regions in Ghana.

PROJECTS O Business Integrity Forum – Comprises 16 companies,

business Associations and Public Agencies;O Co-ordinates Regional Contract Monitoring Project in

West Africa – Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria;

O Media Monitoring and Journalist Against Corruption;O Public Sensitization on Anti-Corruption Laws;

Whistleblowing & Procurement;O Health Accountability Project – HAP.

Impact of CSOs in UNCAC Review Process

O Creates key networks that CSOs can use to advocate & influence processes & policy;

O Provides an in-depth information on understanding of the anti-corruption environment and some of the challenges (especially filling the self-assessment checklist and providing supporting information;

O Strategic information on areas that CSOs can work to enhance the fight against corruption e.g. Access to information, coordination of anti-corruption institutions.

Training In ViennaOProvided a network of CSO in anti-

corruption;O Ideas on how to get involved in UNCAC

Review process;O In-depth knowledge on UNCAC review

process and how CSO can take advantage in advocacy on anti-corruption & influence the process to open and involving.

Actions After TrainingO GACC in October 2012 engaged the Attorney

General & Ministry of Justice on Ghana’s preparedness for the UNCAC Review Process;

O Government appointed a focal person to facilitate the process;

O GACC in collaboration with Commission on Human Rights & Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) held a roundtable Forum on Ghana’s preparedness towards the UNCAC review process. (funded by CHRAJ)

Actions After TrainingO Influenced the choice of Focal Institution for

the UNCAC process (CHRAJ);O Influenced selection of membership of

UNCAC Steering Committee; O Committee comprising the Private Sector,

CSO & Media Association;O Actively involved in Ghana’s preparations

towards UNCAC Review processes.

Use of UNODC GrantO Conducted a study on the extend of

conformity of anti-corruption policies and laws of Ghana to the provisions of the articles of UNCAC

O Used the document to make inputs into the UNCAC review process

O Analyzed gaps in the legal environment that can be used for advocacy to strengthen the fight against corruption in the Private sector

ImplementationO A consultant who is an expert

in the UNCAC Review process and was a Reviewer in Uganda was engaged for the study;

O Gaps identified and used to engage SMEs;

O A workshop was held for SMEs;

O Document was presented to CHRAJ for input into the review process.

Ms. Estelle Appiah, the Consultant

Mrs. Florence Dennis responds to questions from participants

Results of ImplementationO 30 SMEs were engaged – 17 Females/13 Males;O Well informed on UNCAC Review process and anti-

corruption laws relating to the Private sector;O Knowledge gained on the role of SMEs in the anti-

corruption work;O 30 SMEs informed on impact of corruption on

SMEs;O SMEs agreed to form a network to sustain the gains

made so far and broaden GACC’s Private Sector work.

A participant contributes to the discussion

Participants in a group picture after the workshop

OTHANK YOU