GGA

Beyond the immediate environmental and labour abuses lies a more insidious form of exploitation: the economic dispossession of landowners through imbalanced contracts. The report highlights how Hong Tai Quarry secures 20-year land leases that lock local farmers into static, inflation-eroded compensation as low as ₦15,000 ($11) per plot annually. These legally coherent but economically predatory agreements function as "creeping" land grabs, stripping families of their sustainable agricultural livelihoods in exchange for marginal payments that fail to track Nigeria's rising cost of living. With no mechanisms for renegotiation or environmental remediation, these contracts ensure that while corporate returns soar, the long-term economic value of the land is externalised, leaving host communities in a cycle of deepening poverty: gga.org/licensed-to-ex…

SAI - ACA Anti Corruption Conference 2026 in pictures.....

Drawing on a career that spans the foiling of the 2006 transatlantic liquid bomb plot to modern-day organised crime investigations, John Anthony (GIZ Malawi) issued a stark warning to the anti-corruption community: the current global success rate for recovering illicit funds is a mere 1%. Anthony argued that while the "theory" of global financial standards (FATF) is sound, the results are failing because of a persistent refusal to move beyond superficial cooperation. Using the intelligence failures of 9/11 as a cautionary tale, he noted that the attackers moved money through legitimate banks and utilised "enablers" who provided a legal veneer for mass murder. The lesson, Anthony stressed, is that collaboration is not an MOU but a strategy of will. Success in high-stakes investigations requires a "criminal architecture" of our own—one built on integrated sharing mechanisms that span years and borders. "Collaboration begins with trust and ends in accountability," Anthony concluded, challenging every agency in the room to move past the "silo" mentality and turn transparency into a functional weapon against systemic instability.

Corruption is a tax on development that African citizens can no longer afford. Speaking on the urgent link between governance and FDI, Hon. Warren Mwambazi highlighted that attracting sustainable investment requires more than just opportunity—it requires a clean, predictable climate built on the rule of law. Mwambazi underscored that as we face modern complexities—from climate finance to the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence—parliamentarians must be equipped with the forensic and investigative "legal teeth" necessary for effective oversight. By moving beyond institutional silos and embracing the 2026–2030 strategic collaboration between SADCOPAC and AFROSAI-E, Africa can turn accountability into its most attractive investment feature.

"When domestic systems are paralysed by 'systemic capture,' the proposed International Anti-Corruption Court (IACCourt) provides a vital mechanism for asset recovery. It isn’t a replacement for national law, but a complementary layer to ensure grand corruption has no place to hide. Ultimately, the goal is to turn integrity into a competitive advantage for the continent; by strengthening the link between public mandates and enforcement, Africa can create the transparent conditions required for sustainable growth and long-term direct foreign investment," says Karam Singh, Head of Liaison and Advocacy at GGA SARO. @AFROSAIE

Because corruption is systemic and increasingly networked across borders, isolated interventions are no longer enough. We must bridge the gap between detection and deterrence. Collaborative governance is a necessity to ensure that audit findings lead to real-world consequences. - Karam Singh, GGA SARO

Supreme Audit Institutions and Anti-Corruption Agencies are more than technical bodies—they are the architects of investor confidence. By ensuring accountability, these institutions influence credit ratings and economic stability, turning "trust" into a tangible financial asset. - Karam Singh, GGA SARO

Investors don’t lead with opportunity; they lead with a calculation of risk. When corruption is high, transaction costs can spike by up to 25% per project. Capital doesn't just flow where there is potential—it flows where the rules are predictable and contracts are honoured. - Karam Singh, GGA SARO

Corruption is often framed as a moral or legal failure, but Karam Singh argues it is fundamentally an economic development challenge. It diverts resources from health and education and acts as a direct blockade to the foreign investment Africa needs to tackle inequality.

Next up to the podium is Karam Singh, Head of Liaison and Advocacy at GGA SARO. A veteran in the anti-corruption space, Singh shifts perspective from viewing corruption as a moral failure to recognising it as a direct blockade to Africa’s economic growth.

Addressing the current global challenges to cooperation, Dr Ulrich Wehnert, GIZ Cluster Coordinator, underscored that fighting corruption and illicit financial flows (IFFs) remains a cornerstone of Germany’s partnership with Africa. In an era of declining Official Development Assistance (ODA), Dr Wehnert highlighted that mobilising domestic resources and fostering an environment conducive to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are no longer just policy goals, they are economic necessities. Reflecting on a decade since the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, he called for a renewed focus on institutional collaboration, noting that no nation can dismantle global financial barriers alone. "We must join forces," Wehnert urged, "among European partners and our African counterparts to ensure sustainable financing for development."

Day 1 of the SAI ACA Anti-Corruption Seminar 2026 opened with a stark call to action from AfroSAI-E’s Josephine Mukomba. Addressing the theme of Collaborative Governance, Mukomba described systemic corruption as a "gnawing cancer" that continues to stifle Africa’s economic potential. Drawing on the latest Corruption Perceptions Index, she highlighted the alarming normalisation of bribery in accessing basic public services. To restore integrity and attract the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) essential for growth, Mukomba argued that the continent requires robust oversight mechanisms and investigative bodies modeled after the Madlanga Commission.

The days of "placeholder" sustainability are over. With ESG obligations and climate litigation on the rise, the industry is shifting from vague estimates to financial-grade, audit-ready information. This panel explores the end of "trust me" sustainability, focusing on how green data and robust assurance processes can turn reporting into a strategic asset. These experts will share insights into the systems and technologies that strengthen reporting integrity, helping organisations reduce liability and build genuine credibility in an increasingly scrutinised global market.

The spotlight’s on Hon. Narend Singh next at #FOS2026 - exploring how stronger governance, accountability, and coordination can drive sustainability impact 🌱 @environmentza #FutureOfSustainability #FOS2026 #TopcoMedia @Topco_Media

To lead us into our next session, we are honored to welcome Nelson Muffuh, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa. As the continent enters a decisive decade, Mr. Muffuh’s keynote addresses a critical shift in the developmental narrative: moving beyond the "what" of our ambitions to the "how" of credible, rapid delivery. Against a backdrop of climate shocks, fiscal pressures, and global uncertainty, he explores the essential pathways required to place African economies on a resilient and inclusive trajectory toward 2030 and beyond. This session reframes Africa not as a passive recipient of global agendas, but as an active architect of its own destiny—challenging leaders across government, business, and civil society to rethink risk, accelerate execution, and align capital with outcomes that prioritise job creation, natural systems, and social cohesion. #FOS2026 #FutureOfSustainability #TopcoMedia

Ayanda Nkosi, @HEINEKENBevs’ Sustainability Integration and B-BBEE specialist, highlighted the company’s proactive role in South Africa’s sustainability transition by focusing on the power of localised value chains. Central to this approach is the deliberate integration of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and local farmers into the brand's procurement ecosystem, a move that directly stimulates the regional economy and fosters long-term financial resilience. In a direct call to action for the private sector, Nkosi emphasised that corporate sustainability must move beyond abstract goals toward solutions that are practical, scalable, and measurable. By prioritising domestic sourcing and economic empowerment, Heineken demonstrates that true sustainability is rooted in building inclusive systems where local growth and global excellence coexist. #FOS2026 #FutureOfSustainability #TopcoMedia

Award-winning broadcaster Leanne Mans delivers a resonant moderator’s welcome to open Day 1 of the Future of Sustainability conference, grounding the high-level discourse in the lived realities of everyday South Africans. Her address moved swiftly from a warm reception to a sharp analysis of the nation’s socio-economic pressures, specifically highlighting how rising petrol prices continue to drive an unsustainable cost of living for the average citizen. Mans further critiqued the widening energy divide, noting that while the @Eskom_SA crisis has accelerated a pivot toward solar power, the high cost of entry remains a luxury that many cannot afford. #FOS2026 #FutureOfSustainability #TopcoMedia

Sustainability is no longer a slide in a CSR deck; it is the floor your business stands on. Tomorrow morning, at the Indaba Hotel, the conversation shifts from "what if" to "how now." Future of Sustainability conference is bringing together 300+ C-suite executives and ESG pioneers to turn environmental regulations into competitive advantages. Your seat at the table is currently vacant, but strategic foresight doesn’t wait for the hesitant. With 67% of past attendees already reporting significant organisational shifts, the question isn’t whether the industry is changing—it’s whether you’ll be there to lead the transition or be left managing the fallout. Tickets are in their final hours: quicket.co.za/events/349423-… @Topco_Media @FutureofSustai1

Thirty years of the Bill of Rights represents a generational covenant—a promise that the inherent worth of every South African is non-negotiable. Yet, as we reflect on the theme "Making Human Dignity Real," we recognise that dignity is impossible without the bedrock of good governance. Heartfelt celebration must be met with hard-hitting introspection: are our institutions robust enough to protect the vulnerable? Is our democracy serving the many, or the few? At Good Governance Africa, we view this anniversary as a call to action. We celebrate the progress of three decades while championing the systemic transparency and ethical leadership necessary to ensure that "Human Dignity" is not just a legal concept, but a lived, daily experience for all. #HumanRightsDay