By Ahlam Ben Saga
By Ahlam Ben Saga
Rabat- During the first meeting of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on Wednesday, April 4, Morocco’s head of government Saad Eddine El Othmani called for stronger measures against all forms of corruption.
Throughout the meeting, El Othmani stressed the importance of taking strict measures to counter corruption in the country, underscoring the deep-rooted complexity of corruption, as well as its serious threats on Morocco’s development.
The head of government underscored the role of NACC in fighting corruption by implementing pertinent strategies to enhance national transparency and positively influence the daily lives of Moroccan citizens.
He also noted that alongside King Mohammed VI’s personal project of eliminating corruption in Morocco, the 2011 constitution dedicates an entire chapter to promoting principles of accountability and integrity in the kingdom.
Referencing King Mohammed VI’s accession anniversary statements in 2016, he clarified that “combating corruption concerns society and the state along with its institutions,” adding that the nation must continue “accelerating the legal mechanisms to fight this serious phenomenon and criminalize all of its forms to slap away the hands of corrupters.”
El Othmani highlighted the success of his government’s efforts to counter bribery, the rate of which decreased in 2017. He also called for more efforts to boost trust between citizens and government.
In the process, El Othmani hailed the role of men and women in the media industry in raising awareness of corruption and pinpointing its many hidden facets:
“The important role of media in tracing similar phenomena should be acknowledged, and in turn, we have sources specialized in monitoring all media reports related to determining [corruption] issues.”
El Othmani concluded by emphasizing that eliminating corruption is a long-term goal that cannot be achieved without patience and extensive efforts, and that the NACC continues to serve this purpose.
