PAC/PEC applauded at APNIFFT AGM in Uganda
The National Assembly member (NAM) for Foni Bintang Karanai constituency has said that during the recent annual general meeting (AGM) of African Parliamentarian Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Tax (APNIFFT) held in Entebbe, Uganda, African parliamentarians present had applauded the Public Accounts Committee and Public Enterprises Committee (PAC/PEC) of Gambia National Assembly for the political momentum against illicit financial flows through various initiatives in The Gambia.
Hon. Ebrima Solo Jammeh made this disclosure over the weekend at his Bundung Borehole residence shortly after his return from Entebbe, Uganda, where he participated at the APNIFFT AGM with his fellow parliamentarians from other African countries. “When I informed my colleagues at the forum about the renewed political achievements and commitments by the leadership of The Gambia in tackling the illicit financial flows they were really appreciative of that move,” he said.
Hon. Jammeh informed that African parliamentarians acknowledged that the move is an on the part of the National Assembly of The Gambia to check corruption in the country, describing the move as in the right direction.
The Foni Bintang Karanai NAM said the African parliamentarians have called on other African countries to emulate the National Assembly of The Gambia for those great achievements, which are thanks to the strong executive support in safeguarding all public funds through PAC/PEC activities.
Commenting on the Uganda APNIFFT AGM, Hon. Jammeh said the goal of APNIFFT is to provide a platform for African legislators/parliamentarians under sustained advocacy related dialogue and debate in a simplified manner on illicit financial flows, tax governance and domestic resources mobilisation on the African continent.
The main objectives of the APNIFFT, he said informed that the objectives are geared towards breaking down the issues of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and taxation governance so as to allow effective and constructive debates in African parliaments, to increase the quality and frequency of media reporting on IFFs, tax and DRM issues involving African MPs and also to provide spaces and avenue for research support and information exchange between CSOs and African MPs.
The Global Financial Integrity (GFI), he informed, stated that Africa lost up to US$ 1.5 trillion between 1980 and 2009 in Illicit Financial Flows of which about two third of these outflows are through the extractive sectors across Africa.
Hon. Jammeh informed that current measures such as dealing with the Based Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), civil society groups across the globe have been campaigning for the introduction of global standards such as the Automatic Information Exchange (AIE),
Country by Country Report (CBCR) and transparency of Beneficial Ownership (BO).
He stressed the need for African legislators across the continent to mobilise and organise themselves for effective African countries’ involvement in demanding for real reform of the Global Tax System (GTS), adding that the CSOs must also support and collaborate with African parliamentarians in actively demanding for real and effective rule exchanges in the GTS that will benefit all.
“Tax Justice Network Africa (TJN-A) plans to facilitate an APNIFFT to be led by the MP champions from across Africa who have already expressed a desire and commitment to spearheaded the fight against illicit financial flows in Africa,” Foni Bintang Karanai NAM concluded.
