Transparency International PNG (TIPNG)

This follows a five-day training program facilitated by Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) and supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership.

The Active Civic Engagement (ACE) program is one of TIPNG’s flagship youth engagement programs designed to foster positive leadership and community values among young people in PNG. 

The program reintroduced participants to the devastating impacts of corruption at the community level and the effectiveness of positive leadership, unity and consultation in addressing corruption.

The exercise was targeted at increasing citizens’ understanding of elections and awareness on their rights to vote. 

With the 2022 National General Elections approaching, it is important that voters are ensuring that they are enlisted to vote. The awareness in Wewak targeted first-time voters and the broader voting population. 

Moreover, ensure that this appointment is formalized in accordance with the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections Sections 5 and 7.

While Prime Minister, Jame Marape has restated his position during the Parliament sitting on Wednesday, 17^th of November that the elections will proceed as planned.

Five young men and women from the notorious no-go zone of Konnou in South Bougainville participated, yielding a hallmark of unity for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).

TIPNG in partnership with the Bougainville Youth Federation (BYF), the Autonomous Bougainville Government Department of Community Development and the Australian Government, ran the five-day Active Civic Engagement program held at Tunuru mission station in Arawa.

In leading up to the 2022 National General elections, Day 1 of the workshop was targeted at sharing TIPNG’s information on election awareness and to empower first time voters on their rights and responsibilities and also to emphasize the importance of the decisions made by voters for the good of the country.

The signing is an initiative under TIPNG’s Promoting Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategies or the PAIS Project.

TIPNG CEO, Arianne Kassman said this new partnership signifies the proactive steps taken by the IICAC Office to respond to TIPNG’s call to enable greater integrity in the operation of their mandate.

This initiative is part of TIPNG’s Promoting Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategies (PAIS) Project funded by the European Union to strengthen public trust in national integrity institutions.

“TIPNG welcomes the decision by the NEFC to partner with us through an MoU for the development of an anti-corruption strategy that will support the mandate of the Commission. PNG’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2010-2030 calls on state agencies to develop internal anti-corruption strategies and to date there has been almost no uptake of this national policy.

Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) has now called on the government to release all reports on funding for the COVID-19 response to restore public trust.

TIPNG has been calling for greater accountability of COVID-19 funds since the initial declaration of the State of Emergency (SOE) in 2020, and subsequent emergency declarations.  

The initiative to join was led by FairPrice staff after TIPNG held a lunch and learn workshop with them last year.

“We understand corruption affects the economy, business operations and even simple sporting games. It matters to us, our families and our livelihood,” commented FairPrice director, Christopher Elphick.

“In joining TIPNG, we gain access to resources and information that inform and empower our team to act against corruption in our everyday lives. We see it as a good investment for many reasons.”

The SME is encouraging others to join as well.

Transparency International PNG said the decision was handed down by a panel of 5 judges determining the constitutionality of events in Parliament during November.

“Papua New Guineans have every right to expect our elected leaders to lead by example in demonstrating proper conduct in carrying out their responsibilities,” stated Chair of TIPNG, Peter Aitsi.