South Sudan suffers from corruption

General Education Undersecretary Dishes 71,540 USD for Family

by Mary Ajith 15.10.2011

JUBA – Documents released and a copy obtained by the Citizen newspaper indicates that the Undersecretary in the Ministry of General Education, George Justin Achor spent a sum of 71,540 US Dollars to meet the air travel of six members of his family on first class flight from Ottowa in Canada, North America to Juba in South Sudan in August 2011.

What makes the transaction to appear corruption was the approval of the amount by the Undersecretary himself directing the Director General for Administration and Finance in the Ministry, Lino Girikpio Wandu to release the amount. The large sum of money was charged against curricular funds of the ministry as per letter sent to Governor Bank of Southern Sudan dated 17th August, 2011 by the Director General for Administration and Finance and Director of Administration and Finance Sebit William Garang.

The amount in South Sudan pounds is 237,841 before its conversion into Dollars was paid to the BOSS by cashier of the General Ministry of Education Tom Julu Barnaba on 18th August, 2011.

South Sudan suffers from corruption

Corruption has appeared to be the toughest challenge to overcome in the new nation of South Sudan.

The country has been facing this challenge even when the region was still semi-autonomous and a part of Sudan. When the new nation gained independence in July, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir stressed that combating corruption is one of the central goals of his government.

However, members of the anti-corruption commission doubted that the body would be able to carry out its duty due to a multitude of challenges it was facing, including lack of capacities, which forced the commission to design a five-year strategy to fight corruption.

People here believe that the commission’s flaws have its goals extremely difficult to achieve.

However, between the government’s support and the skepticism of the citizens, the anti-corruption commission remains to be the only body qualified to tackle the issue, even if people seem to have lost faith in it.

While continuing to fight corruption, south Sudan can only hope that its name will not be added to the list of failed states, despite being a new country.

http://presstv.com/detail/205308.html

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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