The launch of the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index [CPI] by Government Watchdog Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) recently raised alarm bells regarding the countries ranking on perceptions of public sector corruption.
The CPI is a report that scores countries and territories around the world that records the perceptions of Public Sector Corruption.
The Score reflect the surveyed views of economic experts and business people, not the General Public.
Countries are ranked from a scale of 0 to 100. 100 being democratic and 0 being highly corrupt.
In saying this, Papua New Guinea scored 29 out of a 100, reflecting a high perceived risk of encountering corruption and ranking alongside countries such as Russia, Kyrgystan and Gabon.
TIPNG Chair, Peter Aitsi raised concerns that the country is still seemed not to be making meaningful impact on reducing levels of corruption in the public sector.
Aitsi acknowledged that Governments efforts in combatting corruption through their recent interventions that include the amendment of the Proceeds of Crime Act with Unexplained Wealth Provisions, enacting the Whistleblowers act, the enactment of the Independent Commission against Corruption, appointment of Commissioner and funding operationalization through the national budget and the inclusion of Governance within the Medium-Term Development Plan IV 2023 – 2027.
“These initiatives by the Government are aimed at fostering greater levels of transparency, accountability and restoring good governance.”
The Chairman added that these are well-intentioned legislative and policy interventions but the breakdown in the implementation and enforcement of laws and policies is perhaps where the weakness may lie.