The best way for PNG to increase economic growth and boost the size of the economy is for the government to implement a comprehensive plan to tackle corruption.
This is the message from community advocacy group ACT NOW which has published an analysis of the economic costs of corruption and the measures needed to defeat it.
“International research shows corruption is costing Papua New Guinea billions of kina every year”, says campaign manager Eddie Tanago. “It is ruining our economy and impoverishing the nation.”
ACT NOW says if the government is serious about making PNG ‘the richest black nation on earth’, then it must first introduce reforms to ensure transparency and accountability.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to establish an Independent Commission Against Corruption”, said Mr Tanago.
“But corruption is so entrenched (that) a single institution cannot bring it under control”.
ACT NOW says what is needed is a set of reforms that empower the entire nation to be actively involved in ensuring good governance.
“Ordinary citizens, the business community, churches and the institutions of government, all need to be given the tools to play an active oversight role.”
PNG is the most corrupt country in our region and one of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to the annual corruption perception index (CPI) published by the Transparency International.
In 2018, PNG’s score was just 28.
In contrast, New Zealand had the second best score in the world, 87, Singapore was ranked equal third with 85, and Australia scored 77, Malaysia 47,
Solomon Islands scored 44, Indonesia scored38 and Philippines scored 36.