ACC’s new strategy to tackle corruption

Thimphu, March 30, 2009: Amid the increasing instances of corruption and bribery cases across the country, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched its strategies on March 26 on how to combat the corruption in the country. 

The strategies were unveiled at a two-day deliberation in Thimphu where prime minister, ministers, senior government officials, students and civil society members were invited to have their say and comments. 

The commission underlined the need for suitable strategies and action plans to translate the commitments for corruption-free governance made at the highest level. 

ACC in its strategies highlighted the need for unconditional political will, stringent and clear rules and strengthening the capacity of the courts, ACC, office of the attorney general and royal audit authority (RAA) to fight against corruption beside making partnership with media, private sector, civil society and international bodies.

The ACC chairperson Neten Zangmo called for intolerant culture towards corruption in the country.

A survey by the commission has indicated 70 percent of the Bhutanese people felt that corruption was a major problem and only 20 percent said it was minor but only 2 percent said it was not a problem in the country. 

On the occasion, Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley repeated government was serious about ‘zero tolerance’ to corruption and that they are sharpening their tools to tackle it and reiterated his  support to ACC and RAA to identify causes and forms of corruption, so that a comprehensive and realistic anti-corruption strategy and implementation plan can be formulated.