Advocacy group calls for transparency, accountability in government

January 7, 2024 (JUBA) – An advocacy group has called for transparency and accountability for all resources managed by South Sudan government institutions.

The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA) said the only way to achieve radical reforms in the country is for all government spending agencies to demonstrate high levels of transparency and accountability by accounting for all resources.

“The public is interested to know whether the government is performing well or not”, said Ter Manyang Gatwech, the Executive Director of the advocacy group.

The group claimed South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission, the body mandated to fight graft, no longer functions independently from the government.

If urged all public institutions entrusted with management of public resources to conduct an audit and publish annual performance audit reports starting this year.

“The public has the right of access to information and to hold government officials accountable. This is the only way the public can regain trust and confidence in the ability of the government to deliver services,” said Manyang.

According to CPA, no national ministry has ever provided accountability to the general public ever since the formation of the transitional government in 2020.

“The peace agreement emphasizes the need for radical economic reforms that will lead to equal and equitable wealth sharing in the country. This what Articles1.2.7 of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the South Sudan provides when it demands that key government Institutions shall carry out radical reforms and transformation of public financial management systems to ensure transparency and accountability,” stressed Manyang.

Corruption has been a pervasive problem in South Sudan since 2011. The country, Transparency International’s Corruption Index show, ranks as one of the nations with the highest level of perceived public sector corruption in the world.