The Ombudsman, Bakary K Sanyang, is in Sierra Leone on a four-day study tour with four members of his staff.
The study tour is aimed at learning from ACC- Sierra Leone in order to adapt best practice in our pursuit of creating a highly effective asset declaration regime in The Gambia.
Section 223 of the Constitution provides for public officers to declare their assets to the Ombudsman.
The Office of the Ombudsman has started executing this constitutional provision by requesting senior public officers from the rank of director onwards to fill asset declaration forms and submit to the office.
This provision being an anti-corruption mandate aimed at fighting illicit enrichment in public office, the Ombudsman is keen to take the process beyond the initial step of receiving and processing declaration forms.
The Office considers the ACC in Sierra Leone as a suitable institution to learn from in terms of their experience in asset disclosure.
The Ombudsman and team have kicked off their engagements with a meeting at the ACC conference hall which was graced by the Deputy High commissioner of the Gambian His Excellency Bulli Dibba.
The team have since been on a series of engagements within the ACC and will conclude the study tour with visits to other relevant institution.