Western Bahr el Ghazal pledges to combat corruption
By Ngor Arol Garang
September 20, 2010 (MALAKAL)-The authorities from the southern State of Western Bahr el Ghazal have pledged commitment to combating corruption and expressed willingness to exert efforts that will ensure accountability and transparency to achieve good governance.
Effesion Kon Uguak, deputy governor and a minister of administration and local government told Sudan Tribune on Monday, from Wau, capital of the state, that the administration is committed to combat corruption.
“Everything has as a solution. The state government is determined to combat corruption at all costs, in order to operate as credible and functional government,” said Uguak.
He explained that the state council of ministers has deliberated how best to tackle the fight against corruption: “In every weekly council meeting, the members ensure issues related to corruption and mismanagement are discussed as the first priority.” He added that in the meetings ministers also deliberate their roles in delivering more “responsive, accountable and equitable development.”
Uguak observed that government was on course, having made “strenuous efforts under very difficult circumstances to stabilize the economy, fix roads, improve agriculture, manage educational issues and to realize the manifesto promise of a one-time payment for health insurance.”
“We need our people to move away from relief assistance to producing their own food. Why rely on relief assistance while we have fertile lands lying idle in most productive areas?” asked Uguak.
He urged members of parliament in the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) to make judicious use of Constituency Development Funds in order to benefit the population and to speed up the fiscal decentralization process.
He revealed that the GoSS is considering placing priority in the provision of seed funds for farmers.
Uguak added that the following are priorities: the expantion of roads to rural areas; decentralization of policies to make developmental activities more effective, especially in the rural areas; better coordination with the local councils in the management of contracts; the licensing of companies; and more collaboration among security agencies in the region.
He called for control of the vulgar and aggressive brand promotion methods of telecommunication companies operating in the state, as seen in the painting of private houses in their colours and the adverts on ceremonial roads.
The deputy governor gave assurance that his administration would give their, “fullest support to traditional leadership” to the execution of developmental programs in improving waste and sanitation management and in the adoption of innovative employment creation schemes.
(ST)