At the “Enhancing Citizenship in Combating Corruption” Conference

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh Tackles Corruption in Financial and Administrative Dimensions
 
We have to set standards for fighting corruption at all levels because I believe that the corruptor is worse than the corruptee – Abu-Ghazaleh

AMMAN----February 25, 2013------HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) and member of the Royal Integrity Committee appointed by His Majesty King Abdullah II discussed “Corruption in Financial and Administrative Dimensions” at the first regional conference on "Enhancing Citizenship in Combating Corruption in the Arab World" held under the patronage of HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal.

Deputizing for the Prince, HE Dr. Adnan Badran inaugurated the Conference which was organized by Visions Center for Strategic and Development Studies and Jordan Transparency Center and tackled several key issues related to corruption.

Speakers at the opening session underlined the different aspects of corruption, and tools mechanisms to fight this phenomenon.

A host of high-ranking officials, business leaders, decision makers and diplomats who represent Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Libya, Kuwait, Sweden, The Netherlands, Bahrain, and Denmark are taking part in the venue.

In the first session, HE Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh commended in his speech the efforts of HE Samih Bino, president of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Jordan and highly praised HE Professor Adnan Badran, and for HE Dr. Mustafa Barari, president of Audit Bureau, in addition to Ms. Helda Ajaylat, president of Jordan Transparency Center for the efforts exerted in this regard.

In his basic remarks, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh presented a thorough outline about the corruption phenomenon and the need to make fighting this dilemma a culture.

"Corruption comes in various shapes: financial, political, ethical, educational and also family corruption and we have to focus on educating the new generation about good citizenship and how they can contribute to the development of their countries by fighting all shapes of corruption," he said.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh was appointed by His Majesty King Abdullah II as a member of the Royal Integrity Committee whose work is to support the system of integrity by studying the Kingdom's laws, conducting a review and submitting recommendations.

"We have to set standards for fighting corruption at all levels because I believe that the corruptor is worse than the corruptee," he added. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh tackled several key words and actions that determine the meaning of integrity when it comes to fighting
"Transparency, accountability, disclosure, announcement, legislation and undependability are the keys against corruption," he said.

Abu-Ghazaleh stressed that corruption is not limited to a certain work environment and it might exist in the private sector or the public or the public/private and it could be of individual case or family or mixed.

While concerning the tool to fight corruption, Abu-Ghazaleh elaborated that the Jordanian Compact (the Royal Integrity Committee), the standards, indicators and Marsad (Economic Policies Development Forum), media, education, orientation, culture.
He stressed on the need to activate other monitoring measures such as auditing, penalties, surveillance and control apparatus.

HE Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh called for the need to submit tax clearance certificate for more transparency which he himself conducted and posted a copy of it on the EPDF’s website.

The two-day event’s sessions address significant topics including the Arab Experience in Combating Corruption; the role of Civil Society in Combating Corruption, the European Experience in Combating Corruption, the Role of Political Parties in Combating Corruption, in addition to the Role of Media in Combating Corruption.

Jordan Visions Center for Strategic and Development Studies is a non-profit organization striving to help achieve the objectives of economic and social development which would improve the living standards for citizens of the Arab world.