The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has gone an extra mile to connect with ordinary Papua New Guineans, taking its anti-corruption message to rural communities. 

At the 2026 Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), hosted by ELC-Siassi District in Morobe Province, the Commission’s Awareness and Engagement Team joined church leaders, delegates and members of the ELC-PNG reinforcing the importance of collaborative action with churches in the nation’s fight against corruption. 

Representing the ICAC in the absence of Acting Deputy Commissioner Retired Judge Don Sawong, the ICAC Events & Engagement Director Henry Yamo delivered the Deputy Commissioner’s  speech at Bunsil Station. 

He thanked Head Bishop of ELC-PNG, Reverend Dr Jack Urame,  Church Secretary, Bernard Kaisom, the Synod Committee and the wider Evangelical Lutheran Church member for welcoming the Commission to address delegates from all 18 ELC districts in PNG and for the opportunity to engage with the Church. Mr. Yamo highlighted the importance of faith-based partnerships in raising awareness and influencing positive behavioral change. 

“Corruption affects all of us. It weakens leadership, disrupts service delivery, and erodes public trust. By working together with the Church, we can promote integrity and encourage positive transformation within our communities,” Mr. Yamo said. 

At the center of the speech, corruption was described as “the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain” and in different forms such as bribery, extortion, nepotism, cronyism, fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds, conflicts of interest, and money laundering. These practices, Mr. Yamo said, undermines development, distort decision-making, and deprive citizens of essential services and infrastructure. 

Mr. Yamo further highlighted that corruption is like cancer spreading through society, visible in unfinished roads, inadequate schools, stalled health facilities, and the misuse of public funds for personal benefit. These failures do not happen because of the lack of knowledge among leaders but from a national culture that too often rewards loyalty over integrity. 

“When loyalty is valued above conscience, leadership disappears. Silence becomes a form of betrayal,” he added. 

The ICAC highlighted ongoing government efforts, including: 

• National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2010–2030) 

• National Anti-Corruption Plan of Action (2020–2025) 

These frameworks serve as roadmaps for unified national action. However, challenges persist in translating policies into practice due to weak implementation, limited resources, and inconsistent enforcement. 

Establishment and Role of ICAC 

Secretary for the Department of Justice and Attorney General Dr Eric Kwa, a member of the working committee that established the ICAC, who attended the event as a delegate, described the establishment of the ICAC as milestone achievement for PNG in its efforts in combating corruption. 

He urged more than 800 delegates and the locals at Bunsil Station to report corruption to the ICAC, pointing out the impacts of corruption such as failed government infrastructure and services. 

“Nau yumi gat wanpla opis istap long helpim yumi. Maski yu wanpela grasrut, namel diwai or traipela kwila, ICAC istap long helpim yu, (The ICAC is here to help us all despite our social standing in society),” Dr Kwa said. 

“Nau ICAC em istap klia tru we nau mipla olgeta ol lida na ol wokman bilong gavman i stap wantaim poret. (All public officials and public servants are now aware of the ICAC’s establishment and mandate.) 

“ICAC igat pawa long mekim wok painim aut long yu, holim yu, na kotim yu. (The ICAC has the mandate to investigate, arrest and prosecute public office holders.)  

“Sapos yu lukim wanpla wok projek i kam na ino pinis gut. Wok bilong mekim klasrum ikam na ino pinis, hausik, wok bilong pulim wara ikam na ino pinis. Em moni bilong gavman, yu ken putim ripot igo long ICAC. Na ICAC bai kam mekim wok painim aut na lukim we i gat popaia istap, em nau em i ken holim na kotim ol man.  (If you see an incomplete government-funded project such as incomplete classrooms, health facilities or water supply, you have the right to make a complaint to the ICAC.)

“Yu lukim moni kam long DSIP bilong mekim rot. Kontrakta kam na em sapos long mekim rot na pinisim, tasol em no pinisim rot. Yu ken putim ripot igo long ICAC.” (You can make a complaint to the ICAC about incomplete infrastructure projects such as roads funded under DSIP.)  

The ICAC also had an information booth setup at the synod providing information about the roles and functions of our office and how the people can lodge a complaint with the ICAC. 

The booth received different expressions from the locals and those who were in attendance at the Synod. 

Most locals from the Siassi district and others from the Lutheran Parish districts in attendance showed gratitude towards the ICAC for bringing this vital information to them. 

“Mipela olain long ples, mipela stap na lukim planti samting ikamap, ino stret long ai bilong mipela. Tasol mipela ino save long rot bilong kisim halivim, Nau yupela kam osem na mipela save osem igat ofis istap long halivim mipela,” (We have faced a lot of challenges at the community level, but we lacked the knowledge on how to address these challenges. Your presence here gives us the direction as to how we would seek help), a youth from Bunsil said.  

Lutheran church elders who visited the booth also raised concerns of the rippling effects of corruption that are now targeting the churches. 

“Korapsen em pasin nogut.  Em ino kamap insait long gavman tasol, em save kamap tu insait long sios long olgeta komyuniti. Tenk yu long toksave long mipela long rot blo kotim ol man i mekim dispela pasin,” (Corruption is bad. It does not only happen in government offices or government-run institutions. It also trickles into churches at the community level), a Lutheran church pastor from Madang district said. 

The ICAC noted that fighting corruption is not something one organisation cannot do alone. It requires unity, trust, and cooperation and reaffirmed its efforts to build strong working relationships with government agencies, the private sector, civil society, and churches citing that signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were underway to support joint investigations, information sharing, and coordinated national action. 

The Commission encouraged the Church to continue using its moral influence to speak openly about corruption, integrity, and ethical leadership. Church members were urged to report corruption using the official channels outlined in ICAC’s information materials distributed during the event. 

The sentiments echoed by attendees and speakers were that everyone has a part to play to fight against corruption in PNG and only by standing firm and reporting corruption when we see it, we contribute to a safer, fairer, and more prosperous Papua New Guinea.