The Acting Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Thomas Eluh, has called on Heads of Government Agencies to uphold their constitutional mandate to serve and take bold actions in addressing corruption. 

Mr. Eluh made the remarks during the week-long Heads of Agencies Meeting hosted by the Chief Secretary to Government, Mr. Ivan Pomaleu, at APEC Haus in Port Moresby this week. 

Addressing senior public service leaders, Mr. Eluh stressed the critical need for government agencies to strengthen integrity within their internal systems to better detect, prevent, and address corruption. His call follows the recent release of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks Papua New Guinea among the 30 most corrupt countries globally. 

PNG’s national score of 26 out of 100 reflects a decline of four points from 2024; a result Mr. Eluh described as deeply concerning. 

“This rating reflects the state of the systems we have in place and the level of tolerance for corruption. It must serve as a serious wake-up call to us as Heads of Agencies responsible for driving the public service machinery,” he said. 

He urged agency leaders to reflect on their individual and institutional responsibilities in strengthening integrity within their respective departments. 

“Each one of you must ask- Are we doing enough to deliver our mandate within the confines of the law? Are we doing enough to champion integrity within our departments to deter corruption?” he challenged. 

Mr. Eluh acknowledged that the ICAC, as a relatively new institution, is continuing to build and enhance its operational capabilities as it evolves. However, he emphasized that the responsibility in combating corruption must not rest solely with the ICAC but must be addressed collaboratively and holistically across government. 

“The fight against corruption must be confronted in all fronts. It must be driven by agencies whose heads are seated here. In doing so, we can meet the expectations of our people and also hold ourselves accountable as public servants. Corruption must not become a hindrance to the service delivery of our people,” he stated. 

The Acting Commissioner asserted that the ICAC is committed to working in cooperation with all government agencies to strengthen accountability and good governance across the country’s public sector.