The long-felt need for a statuary body that would independently address the issue of corruption in the country was partly met with the setting up of the ACC in November last year. Regrettably, it commenced its journey in fits and starts. It had taken ridiculously long time to get organised and come up to a working mode. It suffered from internal dissension and squabbles amongst its members that did not augur well for the Commission, dashing the hopes of the public.

There is hardly any need to dwell on the evils of corruption that has eaten into the very vital of our society. Apart from smearing the image of the country by being branded as one of the corrupt nations in the world, our record in this matter has stood in the way of our receiving international assistance and foreign investment so very important for our economic growth. Needless to say, the nation has pinned very high hopes on the Commission, and is eager for more concrete actions that would start the process of eliminating the virus of the most serious ailment in the society.

We are gladdened to see that the ACC is underway, albeit belatedly, and one would hope that the teething troubles have been done away with, with the screening out of the staff of the erstwhile Bureau of Anti-Corruption, among other things. The country has reposed a historic and onerous responsibility on the ACC. It must live up to the expectations. It is our hope that the ACC will initiate more vigorous drive against corruption all over the country without any fear or favour and without any let or hindrance from any quarter.