Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director General Erna van der Merwe says the ACC’s efforts in creating platforms for information sharing with the public, particularly through the media, are crucial.

Van der Merwe, who was speaking at the annual ACC media briefing by the Erongo Regional Office in Swakopmund on Monday, highlighted strategic objective 6 of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan for the period 2021-2025.

This objective underscores the importance of engaging civil society, non-governmental organisations and the media in the fight against corruption.

‘Specifically, objective 6.2 and its actions focus on supporting the role of the media and fostering an environment conducive to free press as mandated by the Namibian Constitution. Additionally, key actions under this objective include conducting public education seminars on corruption for media houses, training investigative journalists on anti-corruption issues, and having the media ombudsman promote awareness on the self-r
egulatory Code of Ethics and Conduct for Namibian media,’ Van der Merwe said.

Briefings such as the annual media briefing, she noted, shed light on the status of corruption in the region, highlighting both ACC’s achievements and challenges, especially in the finalisation of reported cases.

Meanwhile, Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope echoed the deputy director general’s sentiments, noting that the media, and in particular investigative journalism, play a crucial role in exposing corruption to public scrutiny and fighting against impunity.

‘In a world where corruption is rampant and unequal distribution of basic needs have become the order of the day, the role of the media becomes handy as it can demand accountability and transparency from the public and private sectors. Furthermore, the media provides information on public sector corruption where governmental activity is opaque by design or by default,’ Itope highlighted.

He added that significant to the event is the fact that members of the media frate
rnity are afforded an opportunity to get insight into the work of the Anti-Corruption Commission and inform the public accordingly.

The aim of the briefing was also, among others, to share the formulation of national documents and policies aimed at responding to the fight against corruption and in accordance with the commission’s mandates.

Source : The Namibia News Agency