Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia

Summary

The Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia (ACC) was established under the Anti-Corruption Act 8 of 2003 and inaugurated on 1 February 2006. The Director-General (called National Director in the Act) and Deputy Director-General are appointed by the National Assembly on nomination by the President, giving Parliament formal authority over the appointment. This parliamentary appointment model provides stronger institutional independence than executive-only models. The ACC investigates corruption in public and private sectors, with powers to arrest, conduct searches and seizures, compel testimony, and refer cases for prosecution. It also runs prevention and public education programmes. The ACC has faced challenges with senior leadership appointment delays but has pursued high-profile investigations including matters involving government contracts and state-owned enterprises.