The Ethiopian Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has set a deadline for government officials to register their assets, according to reports on Wednesday, 30 September 2020.
The commission, on Tuesday, 29 September 2020, said those officials who haven’t declared their wealth yet were given a deadline of five days, starting from last Monday, and a fine of 28 dollars. Ethiopia is reportedly the ninety-sixth least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International.
Corruption Rank in Ethiopia averaged 109.16 from 2000 until 2019, reaching an all-time high of 138 in 2007 and a record low of 59 in 2002. The commission, in a recent report, said the majority of government officials have not registered their assets despite repeated calls from the commission.
Deputy Commissioner, Wodo Ate said government officials are required to get their wealth registered between Monday, 28 September and Friday, 2 October 2020, also paying a fine of 28 dollars.
According to Ate, those who fail to fulfil their responsibility by the given deadline will face criminal charges of corruption. Last year, the commission said more than 130 billion birr public funds stolen from Ethiopia are still hidden in foreign countries.
The commission’s mandate, including the right to investigate and file charges against suspects of corruption, were overridden by others, following the decision of Parliament. That has called the very existence of the commission into question, the deputy commissioner was quoted as saying.
-APA
