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Corruption on the African Continent can be curtailed if political leaders take steps to implement the various governance instruments and policies.

The Continent has many instruments, including the provisions of African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG), that when adhered to would help end corruption.

Mr Buba Khan, the Africa Advocacy Advisor, Action Aid International, made the recommendation on Tuesday at a three-day planning meeting in Accra for partners implementing the project.

It was dubbed: Mobilizing Civil Society Support for Implementation of the African Governance Architecture (PANAF) Project.

The AGA and ACDEG are provisions motivated by the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU), which sets out international standards of good governance, democracy and elections.

They include issues of ensuring human and people’s rights, consolidating democratic institutions and culture and ensuring good governance, the rule of law, free and fair elections, while condemning unconstitutional changes of government.

The PANAF Project, being funded by the European Union and implemented by a 13-member consortium, led by Action Aid Denmark, seeks to improve governance across the Continent, opening space for more inclusive participation in political decisions by ensuring that the AGA and ACDEG provisions were implemented.

Mr Khan noted: “It is an open secret that corruption is rampant in Africa, and if something is not done it will further sink the Continent… …that is why we are championing the Charter as a tool to combat corruption.

“When people know their rights and responsibilities they can hold governments accountable. Also if governments get to know they have limits and are supposed to be accountable to the people they will be more open and transparent in their dealings,” he said.

Mr Khan urged leaders to go beyond the rhetoric’s and domesticate the AGA and ACDEG provisions to create jobs for the youth and make the Continent prosperous.

As a major achievement for the first year of the project execution, he disclosed that partners had held meetings with various institutions that had strong stakes including high-level political personalities and officials of the African Union.