Transparency founder commends Rwanda’s graft battle

KIGALI - Prof. Peter Eigen, a founder and former chair of Transparency International (TI) – an organization that fights corruption has commended Rwanda’s efforts in eliminating the vice saying it is a sure way of achieving economic development. Eigen made these remarks during his visit to the country with a 50 team delegation from Germany. “Rwanda has various programs that aim at eliminating corruption completely. It is also among the countries that give opportunity to the civil society to play its role in the corruption fight,” Eigen said. “Once a nation desists from corruption, all sectors begin to flourish thus attaining development.” With a related cause of strengthening the corruption fight across the globe, Eigen noted that a new organization known as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has also been established to over see transparency in the mining industry. “The EITI supports improved governance in resource-rich countries through the verification and full publication of company payments and government revenues from oil, gas and mining. We are also set to introduce this initiative in Rwanda very soon which will also promote development,” he added. Eigen is the current Chairman of EITI. A lawyer by training, Eigen has worked in economic development for 25 years, mainly as a World Bank manager of programmes in Africa and Latin America. Ends

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Transparency founder commends Rwanda’s graft battle