KABUL (SW): Pronouncing corruption as the national disgrace, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has vowed to take effective measures to eradicate this menace.
He said this at the European Union Conference on 'The way ahead for anti-corruption in Afghanistan' at the Arg (Presidential Palace) here on Thursday.
The President noted that as priority, measures would be put in place to eradicate corruption at the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, and the Ministry of Education. The President announced that the government is considering a proposal to establish a specialized Anti-Corruption Justice Center.
Stressing upon the need for a strong and stable government, Ghani said that few illegal armed men have endangered the life of civilians and are bent upon weakening the government. Pointing to the judicial system, he promised much needed reforms would be brought in it. The President stressed that the customs offices across the country will be revamped and corrupt individuals would be held accountable.
He noted that as many as 45 companies have been blacklisted and 11 more will soon be added to the list for their corrupt practices.
Speaking on the occasion, Franz-Michael Mellbin, EU special envoy and head of the EU Delegation in Afghanistan, said that corruption remains one of the main reasons for insecurity in Afghanistan. He acknowledged that the Afghans realize corruption is not in their national interest.
Last month, the EU launched its anti-corruption campaign in Afghanistan. The EU’s special envoy said on the occasion that every day ordinary Afghans are confronted with corruption's dark shadow that fills the pockets of the rich while the poor suffer. It undermines the Afghan people's hard-won achievements over the last 14 years, and it is a primary threat to the sustainability and sustenance of the Afghan state.
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