ACCS commissioner welcomes Seychelles’ improved score on Corruption Perception Index |01 February 2024
May De Silva, Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles commissioner has welcomed the improved score in particular for Seychelles in strengthening its standing as the least corrupt country in Africa.
“For three consecutive years we have maintained the top spot in Africa by improving our governance and legislation. We continue to work collaboratively with our partners in the public, private and non-government organisation (NGO) sectors to fight and prevent corruption. Most importantly, we are grateful to all the citizens and the media for continuing to shine a light on the issue and keep the fight against corruption in the public spotlight,” said Ms De Silva in a statement released by the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles (ACCS).
Transparency International published its annual Corruption Perception Index for 2023 this week and once again Seychelles continues to be recognised regionally and internationally for its tireless work in trying to root out corruption in all its forms, having maintained our position as the least corrupt country in Africa and improved our global standing, by one place to the 20th least corrupt country in the world.
“The ACCS remains committed in fighting corruption and raising awareness in our small country.
Since the last global annual report was issued, the ACCS has made more arrests for corruption-related offences, charged more suspects, obtained convictions and seized more assets all over the world. Improvements in our legislative framework in fighting financial and economic crime cases help to enhance our governance structures. Working with the Seychelles National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism Committee which includes the Financial Intelligence Unit, Seychelles Revenue Commission, Seychelles Police Force, the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade during this reporting period, we continued to strengthen our collective resolve to ensure that members of the public get the services they deserve and pay for and that local and international businesses and visitors can have faith in our systems.
“In the reporting year, Seychelles has been recognised internationally at global conferences in Vienna,
London, Côte d’Ivoire and the United States of America for its groundbreaking work with limited resources, and we will continue to stand on a global stage and highlight the work of the Anti-Corruption Commission Seychelles. We successfully hosted the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Heads annual meeting in May last year, and were praised for our leadership. This leadership was also recognised in a ceremony where the commissioner of ACCS received an Anti-Corruption champions award on behalf of the commission from United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in early December 2023,” wrote the statement.
“This year we will continue to visit education establishments and raise awareness in our youth, we will look at developing new laws to protect witnesses as well as prevent financial secrecy and look to protect our sports from corruption. Despite our resources being constantly stretched, the Anti Corruption Commission Seychelles will not be complacent and nor will we take a backward step,” it added.
Press release from the ACCS