United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ The Themis Awards presented the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award to Dr. Roger Koranteng, Advisor and Director, Public Sector Governance, at the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Themis Anti-Financial Crime Awards honor inspiring people who go above and beyond in their global efforts to fight against financial crime. Dr. Koranteng was honored for his service spanning more than 27 years, during which he encouraged and supported anti-corruption initiatives and battled against financial crime in Commonwealth member states and non-member states.
Dr Koranteng expressed pride over receiving the award. He said, “I am really honored and deeply humbled for Themis to declare me a winner and to receive this prestigious fighting corruption award. Financial crime continues to be one of the greatest challenges of our time – a problem that threatens our very existence and the survival of our societies. It has been rightly described as a crime against humanity because of the implication on the lives and livelihood of all, especially the poorest and the vulnerable. This is why I have over the years trained and established, strengthened and managed anti-corruption institutions around the world, in particular the Commonwealth.”
Dr Koranteng added, “I dedicate this award to the Heads and staff of anti-corruption agencies and integrity commissions within the Commonwealth. I also want to express my warmest appreciation to the Commonwealth Secretary General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, for supporting my anti-corruption work. This award will motivate me further in the fight against financial crime.” Dr. Koranteng has conducted a number of international, regional, and national training programs in more than 50 countries, covering topics such as good governance, ethics, and anti-corruption.
During his decade-long tenure at the Secretariat, Dr. Koranteng has handled several governance and corruption issues. During this time, he has formed networks of anti-corruption agencies and regional training centers in Commonwealth Africa and the Caribbean that support inter-agency partnership and capacity-building, the development of regional anti-corruption initiatives, and the exchange of knowledge and best practices between nations. In 2011, he oversaw the creation of the Association of Anti-Corruption Institutions in Commonwealth Africa on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
In 2015, he played a vital role in establishing the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies. He founded the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Center in Botswana in 2013. Similarly, he collaborated with the Grenada Integrity Commission in 2015 to create the Caribbean Regional Training Center of Excellence in Grenada. Further, Dr. Koranteng has hosted and delivered several senior-level executive seminars and capacity-building training programs in governance, administration, and anti-corruption initiatives in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Pacific during his service at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Additionally, he is the author of several research studies and publications. His most recent works include “Tackling Corruption in Commonwealth Africa: The Case Studies of Botswana, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Rwanda, and Lesotho”; and “Combating Corruption in the Commonwealth Caribbean: The Case Studies of The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines”. He has been honored with multiple accolades in the past for his service. At the Caribbean anti-corruption meeting held in St. Kitts and Nevis in July 2022, Dr. Koranteng received an award for his dedication and labor towards the battle against corruption throughout the Commonwealth, especially in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
The award was given to him during the completion of the 8th Caribbean Anti-Corruption Conference held in St. Kitts and Nevis, where he was also lauded for creating a vital and significant network of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Further, Dr. Koranteng was also the 2018 recipient of the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award (Innovations). The prestigious award honors individuals who have shown commitment towards the prevention of corruption and the achievement of the United Nations’ sustainable development objectives.