The Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), Kwami Senanu, familiarises himself with the operations of The Arusha News during his visit to the weekly premiere newspaper located at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
Seated is Graphic Designer David Chikoko.
By The Arusha News Reporter
Africa must “walk the talk”, seal loopholes in financial systems and strengthen banking integrity if it is to confront corruption decisively.
A unified continental code of conduct, experts say, is essential to ensure that public resources are genuinely channelled into development, stability and the fight against poverty.
These were the key messages emerging from the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC), which last week concluded its 50th Ordinary Session at its headquarters in Arusha.
“Going into 2026, one of our priorities will be to remind the African Union leadership that corruption remains the number-one challenge confronting this continent,” said Board Chairperson Kwami Senanu of Ghana.
Tanzanian delegate Benjamin Kapera stressed that the integrity of public servants must be at the heart of Africa’s anti-corruption efforts.
“If we are serious about development, then integrity in public service must be non-negotiable. Our citizens entrust us with scarce resources and it is our duty to ensure every shilling is used transparently and responsibly for the benefit of our nations,” he said.
AUABC Vice-Chairperson Yvonne Chibiya of Zambia echoed the call for decisive action, urging African states to move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate genuine commitment.
“Africa must go beyond statements of intent and truly walk the talk on corruption. We need robust laws, strong institutions and unwavering political will to dismantle the systems that allow corruption to flourish,” she emphasised.
Chairperson Senanu also expressed concern that Africa did not appear sufficiently alarmed by the vast sums lost through corruption — losses, he noted, that are entirely avoidable. “If you have a bucket riddled with holes, whatever you pour in will simply leak out,” he said.
He called for a continent-wide campaign to cultivate a shared intolerance for corruption among citizens and leaders alike.
During the session, members heard that Africa loses an estimated USD 125 billion annually to corruption — equivalent to each of the 55 AU member states losing an average of USD 2.3 billion every year.
