Doha: Director of Legal Affairs Department at the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) Mohammed bin Khalid Al Sada has stressed that Qatar is keen to implement its international obligations.
He noted that the ACTA, in coordination with the concerned national team, implemented the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Sada said that since its establishment, the authority has been preparing programmes and strategies that would enhance transparency and integrity in the country, the most important of which is the national strategy to enhance integrity and transparency and prevent corruption, and its executive plan (2022-26) in cooperation with relevant authorities.
In preparing the strategy, he said it relied on a set of national, regional and international references, including the permanent constitution of Qatar and the Qatar National Vision 2030.
He indicated that the ACTA launched many projects to enhance integrity and transparency, such as the strategic partnerships and the signing of MoUs between it and several other entities in the country and abroad. Al Sada pointed to the authority’s role in developing human resources by setting up educational and training programs, in addition to proposing measures that contribute to introducing the phenomenon of corruption, its effects and risks, and contributing to the development of internal regulations related to transparency and integrity in national authorities.
He said that the authority has also prepared a charter of conduct and integrity for public officials, which was based on its preparation for many national and international references, and the concerned authorities were involved, led by the national team concerned with the implementation of UNCAC.
He explained that the aforementioned charter meets the highest international standards, which are included in international charters and treaties.
Al Sada also indicated that the authority is working on preparing the Supplier and Contractor Integrity Charter with the aim of strengthening the systems, mechanisms and procedures governing the contracting and supplying operations in ministries, other government agencies and public bodies and institutions. The charter also enhances the system of tenders and biddings in the state through promoting the requirements of contractors or suppliers to government agencies, he said.
He added that ACTA responded to the best international practices, taking into account the social and legislative environment of Qatar. Al Sada said that Qatar has many relevant initiatives at the international level including the launch of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award, and the hosting of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
He indicated that the authority has opened direct channels of communication with the public to receive their complaints about behaviour involving corruption and lack of integrity, and to take the necessary measures to verify these complaints, in coordination with the concerned authorities.
Al Sada noted that the authority is currently working on studying a set of legislative proposals on a number of areas that serve the implementation of the agreement and enhance transparency and integrity in the country.
