Column | On the Proposed Anti-Corruption Commission – Part 3

By Saul Saidykhan

To wrap up – as in the corporate world, fraud/sleaze/looting in the public sector is done in three ways (not to be confused with the three catalysts.) Globally, the top three methods people steal from employers -public or private, are through Asset Misappropriation, followed by Fraudulent Financial Reporting or “funny accounting”, then by outright Corruption.

Now, to prevent all these, instead of setting up a nominal “Anticorruption Commission” that will most likely cost Gambians over a hundred million Dalasi yearly to operate, modern technology offers us a much better solution.

Unlike a people-driven Commission that will only guarantee us (a.) high recurrent expenditures; (b.) turning the Chairperson and other Commissioners into overnight millionaires; and (c.) trigger endless accusations among citizens about the biases of the commission’s agents, a non-human Anticorruption System (using AI-guided robots or avatars) will guarantee us not only cost-effectiveness, but impartiality as well.

Technology (AI-guided robots or avatars) do not care about the tribe/creed, interpersonal relationships, looks, title, etc. of anyone. It will do exactly what it is programmed to do impartially.

I know this is wishful because I’m not so naive or conceited as to think people feeding off poor Gambians’ meager resources will willingly shut off the drainpipes they’re using to loot. In fact, there is zero chance of my ideas being adopted and implemented by the current clique misgoverning Gambia.

But just for the record, If I had my way, below is the Comprehensive Internet of Technology-based (IoT) plan I will adopt to change the Gambian paradigm as it pertains to public sector corruption.

The key Objectives of my proposal are: (1.) To PREVENT public resources from being stolen or citizens shortchanged by the employment of low-quality personnel, and (2.) To avoid social discord – charges/countercharges of tribalism, favoritism, or regionalism.

Using IoT, ANY Gambian leader sincere about eliminating or minimizing corruption would in this present era simply deploy AVAILABLE and AFFORDABLE technology as a corruption-PREVENTION system using AI-enabled robots where needed to enforce transparency, accountability, and fairness in public administration and revenue management, eliminating the opportunities that enable corrupt practices to flourish in our public sector.

A Comprehensive Plan to PREVENT Public Sector Corruption through Technology

Key Components

Single Treasury Account (STA)
Implementation: Establish a central Single Treasury Account (STA) integrated with AI to ensure real-time tracking of all government revenues and expenditures.

Functionality:

All government revenue will automatically flow into the STA.
Withdrawals would require multi-layered approvals verified through AI.
AI will detect discrepancies in amounts, duplication of transactions, or suspicious withdrawals.

Revenue Collection Automation
Robot Deployment: Place AI-powered kiosks or robots at every revenue collection point (e.g. government Ministries, Departments, or Agencies).

Digital Payments Only: Eliminate cash transactions. Payments will be made via mobile money, digital wallets, or bank cards, and receipts will be automatically issued digitally.

Real-Time Reporting: All transactions will be logged in a central database monitored by AI for anomalies.

AI Monitoring:

To detect patterns such as sudden spikes or dips in revenue attributed to corruption or real mistakes.
This will flag suspicious transactions for review.
Public Procurement Transparency

E-Procurement Platform:

All government procurement will be conducted on an AI-driven platform.
Vendors must register and provide detailed financial histories. Bids will be evaluated by AI based on pre-defined metrics (price, quality, and timelines) to prevent favoritism.

Smart Contract Management:

Public contracts will be executed via blockchain-based smart contracts.
Payments will be disbursed automatically upon meeting pre-set milestones verified by IoT-enabled sensors at project sites. Ghost Worker, Unqualified personnel, and Nepotism Elimination

AI-Driven HR System:

All applications for public jobs will be submitted through an integrated portal that will not allow candidates without minimum requirements for open positions to proceed. (Job applications will be reviewed by AI to ensure they meet qualifications without human interference.)

AI will ensure that no employee is confirmed in a position unless his/her credentials are verified with the accredited alma mater claimed.

Promotions for most tiers in the public service will generally depend on performance on Computer Based Tests. Subjective evaluations by seniors will be minimized.

AI-enabled On-the-job training will be continuous and mandatory for all technical and professional employees.

Biometric registration will be enforced for all government employees (fingerprint, facial recognition, or iris scans).

AI will cross-reference payroll data with biometric records to detect ghost workers. No public employee will be paid in cash. Internal Controls Against Senior Official Overreach

AI Integrity Gatekeeper:

AI will enforce checks on all decisions by senior officials, ensuring compliance with anti-corruption protocols.
Overrides will require a multi-signature digital approval system, with every action recorded and immutable.

Audit Trails:

AI will maintain tamper-proof logs of all approvals and transactions.
Deviations from protocol will trigger immediate alerts to oversight bodies and law enforcement.
Public Works and Contract Transparency

IoT Sensors and Drones:

Gadgets will monitor the progress of public works in real-time.
Data will be transmitted to a public dashboard to ensure accountability.

Geo-Tagging:

Every project will be tagged to its location, with status updates automatically logged in the system.
AI Whistleblower and Feedback

Mechanism

An AI chatbot will collect anonymous tips from citizens about corruption.
AI will analyze reports for credibility, cross-referencing with other data sources before escalating.
A financial reward system could be created to incentivize citizens to report fraud.

Execution Process

Phase 1: Infrastructure Setup
Deploy AI robots, cloud-based systems, and IoT devices.
Establish the Single Treasury Account and integrate existing financial systems.
Train government officials on the use of the technology.

Phase 2: Pilot Testing
Start with key revenue points and high-risk sectors (e.g., GRA, Customs, Procurement).
Refine AI algorithms based on pilot data.

Phase 3: Nationwide Rollout
Scale technology to all government institutions.

Enforce mandatory adoption of the e-procurement platform and digital payment systems.

Phase 4: Monitoring and Adaptation
Continuously monitor the AI systems for performance. Update protocols to address emerging tactics adopted by corrupt officials to circumvent controls.

Expected Outcomes
Elimination of cash-based corruption at revenue collection points.

A Transparent, efficient public procurement system. Detection and removal of ghost workers.

Minimum influence of nepotism and favoritism in hiring and promotions.
Increased public trust through accessible, real-time dashboards.
Significant reduction in corruption by automating oversight processes.

By deploying this technology-driven system, the country can address corruption at its roots, ensuring a sustainable future.

About Author:

Saul Saidykhan, is a renowned writer and financial professional. He is a regular contributor to this medium.

Publish [10:40, 03/03/2025]