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Participants in a conference on corruption held in Accra, have called for an independent commission to be set up to deal with cases of corruption.

A communique, issued at the end of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) organised conference, also asked for adequate resources to be provided for the anti-corruption action plan.

The conference held on the theme: "Purging the Nation of Corruption: Demanding Accountability from Public Institutions", was attended by ministers of state, Members of Parliament, political, religious and traditional leaders and heads of civil society organisations.

The communique reiterated the call for the Attorney-General’s Department to be separated from the Ministry of Justice.

Appointments

On the appointment of public officers, the communique proposed that the President should appoint heads of government institutions in consultation with the Council of State and with the prior approval of two-thirds majority of Parliament.

Alternatively, it said, a duly constituted independent and bi-partisan committee should vet the applicants, draw up a shortlist and submit same to the President for appointment.

The communique said the appointment of ministers of state from Parliament should cease, to make the Parliament independent of the Executive.

It demanded that Parliament be given financial autonomy.

CHRAJ 

It said the current staff of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) must be vetted.

The communique called for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and suggested that asset declaration by public office holders should be made more transparent.

It advocated the strengthening of internal audit units in public institutions.