What recommendations made for ACC reforms 

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Reform Commission has made 47 recommendations to the interim government. 

Why it matters: The ACC has often been plagued by allegations of inefficiency. It has also been called a toothless tiger previously. For a number of reasons the ACC has not been able to check corruption, but these reforms are set to make it a more dynamic body. 

The top sheet: The ACC has proposed declaring the abuse of constitutional and legal power for personal gain and bribery illegal and permanently ending the legality of black money laundering in the law. It has also recommended ensuring there is no conflict of interest when conducting official duties. 

What other recommendations are there?

●    The ACC believes there is no anti-corruption strategy in the country. Checking corruption is not only the work of the ACC, but other state and non-state actors should also be engaged. 
●    The ACC said a person at the helm of an institution or ministry can make a decision based on personal interest or friendship. Therefore, a law is needed to eliminate such a conflict of interest.
●    It also said money laundering cannot be stopped due to the absence of specific laws. It urged that ownership of shell companies be mentioned in the national registrar in accordance with the rules globally
●    It said to ensure bribery is made illegal in private sector 
●    It asked that transactions of bank accounts of every citizen in the country, both domestic and foreign, be brought under the "Common Reporting Practice". This should be published in the form of an annual report.

Recommendations for elected representatives

The ACC has made a number of recommendations centring elections.

This includes: 

● Disclosing election income and expenditure of political parties regularly 

● All information in affidavits should be disclosed

● Accountability has to be ensured if any information is concealed

● Public representatives at all levels, from local to national, will submit a statement of the assets of all their families to the Election Commission within three months of being elected, which will then be published and updated annually during service tenure

What it says to strengthen ACC

●    Amending the Whistleblower Protection Act
●    Making a law to protect corruption whistleblowers
●    Disclosure Protection Act is not effective, so it has to be amended
●    Appointments to ACC should be made from various professions instead of just bureaucrats
●    ACC's failure must also necessitate accountability   
●    A seven-member selection committee has to be formed to stop appointments based on political considerations
●    To free the ACC from bureaucracy, it has been recommended to appoint the posts of Secretary, Director General and Director through competition
●    A disciplinary commission has to be set up in the ACC to identify and dismiss corrupt officials
●    Continue surveillance through counterintelligence