The African Union (AU) has been commended for realising that the continent would not achieve much on its development agenda unless there were concerted efforts by its heads of state and governments to fight corruption. 
“We are therefore pleased that as a continent, we are taking appropriate steps to ensure that our aspirations as envisaged in Agenda 2063 are achieved.  To this end, we would like to express our gratitude to the African Union for its tireless efforts in encouraging member states to fight corruption in all its manifestations,” said the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi.
Speaking at a cocktail dinner in honour of delegates of the recent high level dialogue on democracy, human rights and governance in Africa, Minister Molefhi called on African countries to work cohesively in fighting corruption stressing that Africa must speak with one voice in the war against the scourge.
Calling the fight against corruption a mammoth task, he said it therefore required commitment from all African nations hence the dialogue was an opportunity to exchange views and share experiences on best practices.
AU commissioner for political affairs Ms Minata Cessouma said the adoption of the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption in Africa (AUCPCC)  in 2003 and its rapid entry into force in 2006 gave a major boost to various national, and indeed global efforts to eradicating corruption.
The AU, she said,  recognised the importance of sustainable efforts towards the fight against corruption in 2003 and then adopted the convention which laid out the blueprint for effectively combatting corruption at all levels. 
Ms Cessouna however said corruption remained a devastating challenge to good governance, sustainable economic growth, peace, stability, and development in Africa. 
She said Africa faced the brunt of corruption at all levels from public service providers negotiating kick-backs and multinational corporations contracts with governments to the women in the rural area seeking basic health services.
Corruption, she said, impeded development in society by denying citizens access to quality infrastructure, adequate health facilities, affordable education and above all, bred inequality and exacerbated governance deficits which in turn gave rise to violence and conflict. 
Ms Cessouna said African countries needed to discuss how better to democratize the fight against corruption by leveraging the positive partnership that could be achieved through state and non-state collaborative efforts citing the strengthening of global and international partnerships around issues such as illicit financial flows, asset recovery and transparent business dealings.
She said tackling corruption in Africa must be seen as a top priority to prevent it from festering in Africa’s political, economic and social systems.ENDS