The Chairperson of the Good Governance Committee (GGC), Hon’ble Tenzin presented the Committee’s Review Report on the Anti-Corruption Commission’s Annual Report 2021-2022 today. He submitted that the report is presented in consonance with Article 27 (4) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan and Section 169 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act of Bhutan 2011.

The Review Report was presented in three sections;

              I.          Introduction of the review;

           II.          Five main areas of the review: 1.Prevention of Corruption;  2.Complaints and Referrals: 3.Investigation of Corrupt Acts;  4.Overall Performance of the Commission; and 5.A Look Inside Commission and way forward and Challenges; and

        III.          Five recommendations from the committee.

To enhance the effective and efficient functioning of the Commission to achieve the Royal vision and NKRA (Corruption Reduced) in the 12th FYP and to further achieve  its vision to build a happy, harmonious, and corruption-free society, the Chairperson submitted the Committee’s five recommendations as follows:

1. The Anti-Corruption Commission to strengthen awareness and advocacy programs to the Local Government leaders owing to the highest corruption especially abuse of functions in the Local Government.
2. Considering that the ACC had made various recommendations for agencies to implement, the ACC was recommended to submit a follow-up report to the Parliament on the actions taken by concerned Agencies and Ministries in the next reporting year.
3. Concerned agency should also submit a report to the Parliament on the implementation of the ACC’s recommendation on surface collection and dredging of river bed materials in the next session.
4. ACC to continue conducting system assessments like Youth Integrity Assessment, and Social Accountability Assessment in the future.
5. ACC to coordinate with law enforcement agencies regarding their security concerns.

The House supported  all five of the Committee’s recommendations through a majority show of hands. Additionally, the House deliberated and supported  a new recommendation that ECB in collaboration with ACC monitors and ensure corruption free elections both at the national and local government.

The House supported the committee’s 5 recommendations and the additional recommendation with 41 Yes and 2 Abstain out of 43 members present and voting.

Following the adjournment of the Session, the House continued the plenary meeting on the Civil Liability Bill of Bhutan 2022.