We, Ministers and representatives of Government, the list of which is annexed hereto, having met under the auspices of the Global Coalition for Africa in Washington DC on February 23, 1999,

Concerned about the devastating effects of corruption on the social, economic and political foundations of nations, and on their economic and social development and efforts to eradicate poverty;

Desirous of launching a concerted and collaborative effort to combat corrupt practices and thereby contribute to the global fight against corruption;

Acknowledging that anti-corruption efforts, to be successful, require political will at the highest level and committed leadership at all levels, and must involve civil society;

Determined to eliminate corruption through effective preventive and deterrent measures including strict enforcement of legislation, rules and regulations;

Aware that good governance, accountability and transparency are necessary to counter corruption;

Mindful of the UN General Assembly resolution on actions against corruption and other collective regional efforts to combat corruption such as those by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Organization of American States (OAS);

Now therefore do agree that Governments should:

1. Demonstrate the leadership and political will to combat and eradicate corruption in all sectors of government and society by improving governance and economic management, by striving to create a climate that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in public as well as private endeavors, and by restoring popular confidence in the government.
2. Establish budgetary and financial transparency and strong financial management systems.
3. Eliminate unnecessary government regulations that negatively affect economic activity; and establish simple, readily available regulatory procedures with clear criteria and deadlines.
4. Enact and enforce criminal laws which will deal effectively with corruption offenses by imposing severe penalties on individuals convicted of corruption or corrupt practices, and on business entities found to be involve in such practices. Enact and enforce criminal and civil laws that provide for the recovery, seizure, forfeiture or confiscation of property and other assets acquired through corruption.
5. Eliminate conflicts of interest by adopting and enforcing effective national laws, guidelines, ethical regulations or codes of conduct for public officials, which include rules on conflict of interest and requirements for the regular disclosure of financial interests, assets, liabilities, gifts and other transactions.
6. Undertake necessary administrative reforms to restore the morale and integrity of the public service, for example by ensuring merit-based recruitment and promotion policies and procedures and providing adequate benefits, including remuneration and pension schemes.
7. Promote transparency in procedures for public procurement and the sale or licensing of economic rights and interests by eliminating bureaucratic red tape, by providing for open and competitive bidding for government contracts, by the prohibition of bribery, and by adopting procedures for resolving challenges to the award of contracts or the sale or licensing of economic rights.
8. Adopt revenue collection systems that eliminate opportunities for tax evasion, and reform regulatory processes that facilitate customs duties evasion, especially in regard to international business transactions.
9. Require companies and organizations to maintain adequate and accurate financial books and records, and to adhere to internationally accepted standards of accounting.
10. Establish and enforce self-regulating codes of conduct for different professions, including those in the private sector.
11. Promote standards for corporate governance and the protection of shareholder rights.
12. Prohibit individuals found guilty of corruption from bidding on public contracts or otherwise doing business with governments. Publish details of companies that are found to have, or whose subsidiaries, agents or representatives are found to have, engaged in corrupt practices, and bar them from bidding on public contracts or otherwise doing business with the government for a period of time specified in national legislation.
13. Ensure that anti-corruption agencies are autonomous, independent, governed by a clear body of law, and effectively empowered to initiate and pursue investigations of corruption, and provide for the prosecution of offenders in accordance with investigations and due process.
14. Establish other accountability and oversight mechanisms, including as appropriate inspector general and audit offices.
15. Adopt legislative mechanisms and procedures for the public to submit complaints of corruption and corrupt practices, including the protection of witnesses and whistle blowers.
16. Facilitate the involvement and participation of civil society, on a continuous basis, in the formulation, execution and monitoring of anti-corruption reform programs.
17. Restore and maintain the independence of the judiciary and ensure adherence to high standards of integrity, honesty and commitment in the dispensation of justice through, among other things, adopting a judicial code of conduct.
18. Guarantee the public’s right to information about corruption and corrupt activities through protection of the freedom of the press and effective parliamentary oversight and scrutiny.
19. Adopt cooperative arrangements at the regional and/or sub-regional level which provide for the mutual exchange of ideas, information, best practices, intelligence and experiences for the purpose of minimizing risks of cross-border corruption including international business transactions.
20. Facilitate the cooperative investigation of cases involving corruption by rendering mutual legal assistance in obtaining evidence, documents, articles, records and witness statements.
21. Provide assistance in the investigation, recovery, seizure, freezing, forfeiture and confiscation of property in respect of the proceeds of corruption as well as the reciprocal enforcement of forfeiture and other such orders.
22. Apply reciprocal obligations for the extradition of those accused or convicted of corruption offenses.
23. Take preventive measures, including the short-term harmonization of relevant laws, regulations and procedures, for example those relating to taxes, customs tariffs and duties, and public procurement.
24. Establish government-to-government mechanisms to monitor implementation of these principles, including a mutual reporting and evaluation process.
25. Consider the elaboration and adoption of an African convention for combating corruption based on the foregoing principles, and encourage the establishment of a global anti-corruption convention.

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Last modified: 12 September, 2001
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