TIPNG TO LAUNCH CORRUPTIONS PERCEPTIONS INDEX IN FEB

By Nigel MADO

Transparency International Papua New Guinea [TIPNG] will be looking to launch the PNG Corruptions Perceptions Index in February, although the date is yet to be confirmed. This from the TIPNG Director of Communications, Yvonne Ngutlick who stated that they are still conducting preparations for next month.

Ngutlick said there is still more work to be done prior to the official announcement of the launch date.

TIPNG, a major corruption watchdog for the Government will be looking to table the results and performance of Papua New Guinea against almost 180 countries around the world on how corrupt they are and tracks their progress to addressing their level of corruption.

The Papua New Guinea Government has been adamant that they are working to ensure transparency in all government agencies and public service, working in tandem with TIPNG in order to set up policies and enabling legislation, which eventually led to the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption [ICAC] under Section 220B of the Constitution of the independent State of Papua New Guinea and is governed by the Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption 2020 (OLICAC).

This also saw the enactment of the Whistleblower Act 2020.

Despite this, last year, the 2023 CPI saw PNG ranked 133 out of 180 countries with a CPI score of 29 in 2023, a drop from the year before in 2022 and slowly declining since an all-time high of 31 in 2021.

TIPNG has also worked alongside the National Judiciary Staff Services to strengthen transparency and accountability in their workforce by introducing the Anti-Corruption Strategy in 2023.