Leaders called to support Papua New Guineas’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF)  commitments and uphold integrity heading into the 2027 elections

The Independent Commission Against Corruption has urged provincial leaders to strengthen transparency, accountability and compliance as PNG seeks to improve its international financial standing and prepares for the 2027 National General Election.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Eluh said PNG’s placement on the FATF Grey List has increased scrutiny of how public funds are managed throughout the country.

“The world is not watching Waigani alone. The world is watching our provinces, our districts, our LLGs and how we manage every kina,”he said.

He reminded leaders that public spending must be traceable, transparent and compliant with procurement and financial management laws.

“The Procurement Act is no longer just a governance tool. It is an international compliance requirement,”he said.

ADC Eluh noted that helping PNG exit the Grey List requires collective action from every level of government.

At the same time, he warned that public officials must remain professional and impartial as the country approaches the 2027 National General Election.

“Politics may change, but public administration must remain professional, impartial and accountable,” ADC Eluh said.

Acting Commissioner Retired Judge Don Sawong reinforced that while prevention and education remain priorities, the Commission will continue to exercise its investigative and enforcement powers where necessary.

“The strongest partnership between the ICAC and provincial administrations is one where prevention comes first, education supports prevention, and operations are available when enforcement becomes necessary,” he said.

He reminded officials that ICAC’s establishment was driven by the need to safeguard public administration and strengthen accountability across government institutions.

Closing the forum, both AC Sawong and ADC Eluh encouraged provincial administrations to work closely with the ICAC through awareness programs, training, risk assessments and governance reviews.

“Do not wait for the ICAC to find the problem. Work with the ICAC to prevent the problem,”AC Sawong urged.

The forum concluded with a strong message from the ICAC: strengthen systems, follow the law, uphold integrity and work together to build public trust in government institutions.

Provincial and district leaders have been reminded that they play a critical role in safeguarding public funds and maintaining confidence in government institutions.

During the regional breakfast forum, ICAC Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Eluh highlighted the significant volume of development funding managed at the provincial and district levels.

According to ADC Eluh, approximately K1.18 billion in DSIP and PSIP funding was distributed across Papua New Guinea in 2025, including K960 million to districts and K220 million to provinces.

“This is K1.18 billion flowing directly into provincial systems; money that passes through your hands, your processes and your oversight,” ADCEluh said.

He noted that provincial administrators and district leaders carry significant responsibilities under the Procurement Act, Public Finances Management Act, Section 32 controls and Form 11 approval processes.

“Every committee you chair, every tender you approve, every supplier you verify, or fail to verify, becomes part of a national story of integrity or corruption,” he said.

Similarly, Acting Commissioner Retired Judge Don Sawong emphasised that public trust depends on how public officials manage resources and implement government programs.

“Provincial and district administrations are at the frontline of government service delivery and play a decisive role in building public trust and preventing corruption,”he said.

AC Sawong said integrity means managing public resources responsibly, placing public interests ahead of personal interests and making decisions capable of withstanding scrutiny.

ADC Eluh challenged leaders to recognise that they are more than administrators.

“You are custodians of public confidence. You are stewards of the nation’s resources,”he said.

Both leaders encouraged provinces to strengthen procurement compliance, improve financial oversight, undertake corruption risk assessments and ensure accountability mechanisms are functioning effectively.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is placing corruption prevention at the centre of its work, with Acting Commissioner (AC) Retired Judge Don Sawong and Acting Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Thomas Eluh highlighting the importance of strong systems, ethical decision-making and proactive governance. 

Addressing provincial leaders during the third Commissioners’ Regional Breakfast, ADC Eluh explained that the ICAC’s approach is built on prevention before enforcement. 

“The role of the ICAC is both proactive and reactive,” ADC Eluh said. 

“Our proactive mandate focuses on prevention, education and awareness, while our reactive mandate is centred on enforcement.” 

He said the Commission’s prevention efforts are centred on engagement, awareness and education, communication, research and policy development to help institutions identify vulnerabilities before corruption occurs. 

AC Sawong echoed the importance of prevention, describing it as the first and most important pillar of the ICAC’s mandate. 

“Good prevention is not about catching people after the money is gone. It is about designing systems so that the opportunity to misuse public resources is reduced in the first place,” he said. 

The Acting Commissioner encouraged leaders to strengthen procurement systems, internal controls, reporting mechanisms and governance processes within their administrations. 

Meanwhile, AC Sawong also highlighted the importance of ethical leadership and decision-making, encouraging public servants to assess their decisions against a simple set of questions: 

• Is it lawful? 

• Is it fair? 

• Is it transparent? 

• Can it be justified publicly? 

• Would you be comfortable seeing it on the front page of a newspaper? 

He stressed that awareness initiatives should ultimately change behaviour and workplace culture rather than simply improve attendance at training programs. 

Both leaders stressed that strong systems alone are not enough. 

“Systems do not operate by themselves. They operate through people entrusted public officials like you,” he said. 

ADC Eluh added that successful prevention depends on strong partnerships and cooperation between the ICAC and public institutions. 

“These initiatives cannot be carried out in isolation,” he said. 

Provincial administrators, district leaders and senior public servants have been called upon to take greater ownership of the fight against corruption, with Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) leaders stressing that integrity and accountability begin at the leadership level.

The message was delivered during the third Commissioners’ Regional Breakfast for the Southern Region in Port Moresby, where Acting Commissioner Retired Judge Don Sawong and Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Eluh addressed provincial leaders under the theme “Engaging Provincial Leadership: Promoting Integrity and Accountability through Partnerships.”

AC Sawong told participants that corruption should not be viewed solely as a law enforcement issue.

“Corruption is not simply a problem for the ICAC to deal with. It is a governance problem. And governance is a leadership responsibility,” he said.

He described corruption as the abuse of power, position or authority for personal gain, noting that its consequences are seen every day through poor service delivery, weakened institutions and wasted public resources.

Echoing the Acting Commissioner’s call for leadership-driven reform, ADC Eluh said corruption prevention begins with a willingness to confront reality and address governance shortcomings openly and honestly.

“Acknowledgement is not blame. Acknowledgement is leadership. It is the courage to say yes, there are problems, and yes, we must fix them,”he said.

“We cannot fix what we refuse to face. We cannot strengthen systems we pretend are functioning.”

Both leaders stressed that corruption prevention starts with leadership that is willing to confront challenges, promote transparency and strengthen systems before problems escalate into investigations.

AC Sawong reminded officials that public trust is built through the decisions they make every day.

“Ultimately, the trust that citizens place in government is built, or lost, through the actions and decisions taken in offices such as yours every day,”he said.

The Commissioners encouraged provincial leaders to see themselves as custodians of public trust and partners in building a stronger, more accountable public sector.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today held an official handover ceremony, marking the transition of the Acting Commissioner role from Thomas Eluh to retired Judge Don Sawong. The event was witnessed by commission staff and members of the media.

The event provided an opportunity to acknowledge the leadership and contributions of outgoing Acting Commissioner and Acting Deputy Commissioner Thomas Eluh, while reaffirming the new Acting Commissioner’s commitment to advancing the Commission’s mandate through its three strategic pillars: Prevention, Education and Awareness, and Enforcement, supported by a fit-for-purpose organisational structure designed to prevent and combat corruption.

Mr Eluh welcomed the appointment Retired Judge Sawong, describing it as a positive step for the Commission’s continued growth and effectiveness. He expressed confidence in retired judge Sawong’s leadership and pledged his full support in working collaboratively with him to advance the Commission’s strategic priorities and achieve its planned objectives. He emphasised the importance of continuity in leadership and teamwork in strengthening the ICAC’s efforts to uphold integrity, accountability, and public trust.

“I respect the decision of the ICAC Appointments Committee and welcome the appointment of Retired Judge Don Sawong as Acting Commissioner during this transitional period,” Mr Eluh said.

He vowed to work closely with the two Acting Commissioners and the ICAC executive team to ensure the Commission remains firmly focused on its enforcement pillar while continuing to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts

Meanwhile, the incoming acting commissioner in his remarks, thanked the ICAC Appointment Committee for the confidence placed in him and acknowledged the work carried out by the Commission’s leadership and staff.  

The Acting Commissioner Retired Judge Sawong emphasised that effective enforcement is critical to deterring corrupt practices and maintaining public confidence and said he looked forward to fostering strong collaboration across all areas of the Commission to deliver meaningful outcomes.

“I am honoured and privileged to take on this responsibility and to serve the people of Papua New Guinea in this important role,” he said.

Both leaders emphasised that while leadership may change, the ICAC’s mandate remains constant.

“When the three of us assumed these responsibilities in June 2025, our immediate priority was to restore stability in the leadership of this young institution to continue to grow and mature. I am pleased that this has been achieved,” Acting Commissioner Sawong said.

He emphasised his plans for this term as acting deputy commissioner is to focus on the areas that will have an impact on preventing and addressing corruption.

The ceremony concluded with a reaffirmation of the Commission’s commitment to its anti-corruption mandate and its determination to work collectively towards building a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free Papua New Guinea.

Staff and members of the media witnessed the formal exchange through a cake cutting ceremony, symbolising a memorable transition of leadership and a shared commitment to advancing the ICAC’s mission.