Ethiopia seeks new law to fight graft

ADDIS ABABA, Wednesday

Ethiopia is preparing a new Bill to enforce State officials’ private assets and finance registration and notification, says National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

The commission deputy commissioner, Mr Addisu Mulgeta, said the Bill will serve as an additional tool to fight corruption among the top officials.

He said the Bill will soon be to sent to parliament.

According to the Bill, each government official should disclose their private property and finance to the commission when they take a public office.

Source of income

The commissions also has a right to investigate any official’s personal source of income and property ownership during their term in public office.

The Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Mr Teshome Toga, said the government has attached due attention to the need to prevent widespread and entrenched corrupt practices, which, he added, were a threat to the nation’s peace, development and democratisation.

Compared to other developing countries, corruption remains low in Ethiopia. However, recent reports from Transparency International indicate that the vice was taking root in Africa’s second most populous nation.