In a move that will improve good governance, cut costs and combat corruption, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has confirmed that five additional partner administrations have joined its Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion Programme (A-CIP).
Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan, Niger and Palestine joined at the start of the year, and have already benefited from the WCO’s technical assistance and expertise as they attempt to stamp out corruption on their borders.
In a statement on Monday, the intergovernmental organisation said that it had spent the last two decades trying to address the complex problem of customs corruption.
Its core strategic policy document, ‘Customs in the 21st Century’, focused strongly on the fight against corruption, the safeguarding of integrity, and the enhancement of good governance measures, a spokesman said. “The A-CIP Programme will galvanise activity in this area and lead efforts to improve governance and integrity in customs.”
The five new members join Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Tunisia. – Bjorn Vorster
