Geingob ideologically fathered ACC – Noa
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director-general Paulus Noa says the graft-busting agency is the ‘brainchild’ of late president Hage Geingob.
Noa, who expressed ACC’s condolences on Geingob’s passing, also revealed conversations he had with the deceased president, who encouraged him to never succumb to criticism by those facing investigations.
“ACC is the brainchild of Geingob. On 5 March 1997, Geingob, then prime minister, launched an ad-hoc committee on the promotion of ethics and combatting of corruption. He, in his capacity as prime minister, chaired the committee,” Noa told Namibian Sun.
He added: “It was his efforts that culminated in the enactment of the Anti-Corruption Act, which established the ACC. The ACC is what it is today - operating independently and effectively - because of Geingob’s strong stance on non-interference in the processes and systems of institutions’ work, particularly the ACC’s.”
Geingob died on Sunday after a short battle with cancer, and Noa, who has been head of ACC since its inception in 2005, said the late president’s efforts have immensely contributed to the strengthening of Namibia’s fight against corruption.
Fighting corruption
“I recall whenever there were allegations made against Cabinet members, he would write them letters to encourage them to give explanations of these corruption allegations, and once they responded, he would send these responses unedited to the ACC,” Noa said.
“In his referral letter, he would say ‘I am forwarding you these letters so that you can analyse and determine whether there’s anything that warrants an ACC investigation’.”
In 2018, Geingob wrote to ministers Sacky Shanghala, Alpheus !Naruseb and Obeth Kandjoze to explain allegations of corruption levelled against them. He then forwarded their replies to ACC.
ACC found nothing incriminating, although the following year, 2019, Shanghala was arrested and charged for corruption alongside nine others. He remains in jail with another former minister Bernhardt Esau, pending trial in the so-called Fishrot bribery scandal.
At the opening of the Swapo congress in November 2022, Geingob defended his record in fighting corruption, saying: “By now you have proof of those who benefitted from Fishrot. I took action, I wrote to them and gave it to ACC”.
In 2021, the late president endorsed the renewal of Noa’s contract at ACC, amid pushback from the opposition in the National Assembly. He had also previously reappointed Noa in 2015.
Legacy
According to Noa, Geingob always backed his work, and encouraged him to ignore those who accuse him of working on the instigation of third forces.
“He told me that he sympathised that I am often criticised, sometimes unfairly, but said the work must be done. Where there’s evidence, take it to the prosecutorial authority to do its work. Where there is no evidence, just announce [that the people have been cleared],” he said.
“The ACC will always draw inspiration from his legacy of transparency and accountability.”
Noa, who expressed ACC’s condolences on Geingob’s passing, also revealed conversations he had with the deceased president, who encouraged him to never succumb to criticism by those facing investigations.
“ACC is the brainchild of Geingob. On 5 March 1997, Geingob, then prime minister, launched an ad-hoc committee on the promotion of ethics and combatting of corruption. He, in his capacity as prime minister, chaired the committee,” Noa told Namibian Sun.
He added: “It was his efforts that culminated in the enactment of the Anti-Corruption Act, which established the ACC. The ACC is what it is today - operating independently and effectively - because of Geingob’s strong stance on non-interference in the processes and systems of institutions’ work, particularly the ACC’s.”
Geingob died on Sunday after a short battle with cancer, and Noa, who has been head of ACC since its inception in 2005, said the late president’s efforts have immensely contributed to the strengthening of Namibia’s fight against corruption.
Fighting corruption
“I recall whenever there were allegations made against Cabinet members, he would write them letters to encourage them to give explanations of these corruption allegations, and once they responded, he would send these responses unedited to the ACC,” Noa said.
“In his referral letter, he would say ‘I am forwarding you these letters so that you can analyse and determine whether there’s anything that warrants an ACC investigation’.”
In 2018, Geingob wrote to ministers Sacky Shanghala, Alpheus !Naruseb and Obeth Kandjoze to explain allegations of corruption levelled against them. He then forwarded their replies to ACC.
ACC found nothing incriminating, although the following year, 2019, Shanghala was arrested and charged for corruption alongside nine others. He remains in jail with another former minister Bernhardt Esau, pending trial in the so-called Fishrot bribery scandal.
At the opening of the Swapo congress in November 2022, Geingob defended his record in fighting corruption, saying: “By now you have proof of those who benefitted from Fishrot. I took action, I wrote to them and gave it to ACC”.
In 2021, the late president endorsed the renewal of Noa’s contract at ACC, amid pushback from the opposition in the National Assembly. He had also previously reappointed Noa in 2015.
Legacy
According to Noa, Geingob always backed his work, and encouraged him to ignore those who accuse him of working on the instigation of third forces.
“He told me that he sympathised that I am often criticised, sometimes unfairly, but said the work must be done. Where there’s evidence, take it to the prosecutorial authority to do its work. Where there is no evidence, just announce [that the people have been cleared],” he said.
“The ACC will always draw inspiration from his legacy of transparency and accountability.”
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