The African Development Bank Group has on 25 July 2022, announced the nine-month debarment of Entreprise de Commerce et de Construction Immobilière with effect from 27 June 2022.
Entreprise de Commerce et de Construction Immobilière is a limited liability company registered under the laws of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
An investigation conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Entreprise de Commerce et de Construction Immobilière engaged in fraudulent practices during a tender for the Rehabilitation of the CCIA Building and Tower B of the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Rehabilitation of the CCIA Building and Tower B of the African Development Bank was aimed at enabling the Bank to occupy these premises.
During the debarment period, Entreprise de Commerce et de Construction Immobilière and its affiliates will be ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects.
At the expiry of the debarment period, Entreprise de Commerce et de Construction Immobilière will only be eligible to resume participation in African Development Bank Group-financed projects after it implements an integrity compliance program consistent with the Bank’s guidelines.
About the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption:
The Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption of the African Development Bank Group is responsible for preventing, deterring and investigating allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in Bank Group-financed operations.
The African Development Bank Group views corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices as highly inimical to the achievement of its mandate. In order to spur sustainable economic development and social progress on the continent, AfDB endorses a multipronged approach to combating these harmful practices. Consequently, the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) uses proactive measures including risk assessments and sensitization programmes to deter sanctionable practices and prevent their occurrence in internal corporate procurement issues and operations financed by the Bank Group.
Mandate
The Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department has the overriding mandate to carry out independent investigations into allegations of corruption, fraud and other sanctionable practices in Bank Group Financed Operations. “Bank Group Financed Operations” are internal corporate procurement issues and operations financed by the Bank Group. The Department also develops preventive measures to proactively reduce the potential for corruption, fraud, misconduct and other sanctionable practices within Bank Group Financed Operations. PIAC’s operational responsibilities further include risk assessments and employment of surveillance measures towards investigations.
PIAC was established in November 2005 and became operational in June 2006. In order to further strengthen the Bank’s anti-corruption agenda, the Board of Directors approved the restructuring of the Department on the 5th of July 2012. PIAC’s mandate is reflected in its independence, authority, access and operations provided in its terms of reference.
