Accra, 20-21 March 2006

The workshop held in Accra from 20–21 March, brought together about 90 parliamentarians, civil society organisations and media representatives from 13 West African nations, including TI chapters from eight West African countries.

To learn more, read TI's Press Release from the 22nd March 2006: "Recovering Africa’s stolen money". West Africans gather to map out campaign strategy for adopting anti-corruption conventions to end the “main drain” on development,

Benin, December 2005

In order to promote the guides and the country-specific materials and more generally to provide impetus to ratification and implementation of the two Conventions in West Africa, Transparency International and its partners held a 2-day West Africa regional workshop on ratification and implementation of UNCAC and the AU Convention in Benin in December 2005.

The workshop included participants from the above 12 West African countries. Its aims were three-fold.

First and foremost, the workshop provided a learning opportunity for the participants by training them on how to use the two guides and raising their awareness on the importance of country ratification and implementation of the two Conventions.

Second, the workshop encouraged participants to develop national action plans for securing ratification and implementation in their countries, as well as for monitoring implementation.

Third, the workshop used the large gathering of people from the governments and civil society of twelve West African countries to promote a regional approach towards ratification and implementation. The participants developed recommendations on strengthening collaboration within the region.