Deep concern about the possible prosecution of Ketakandriana Rafitoson in Madagascar

The Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Africa Steering Committee is deeply concerned by the possible prosecution of Ketakandriana Rafitoson, National Coordinator of PWYP and Executive Director of Transparency International Initiative – Madagascar (TI-MG). 

Ketakandriana and TI-MG’s Chairperson Dominique Rakotomalala have been summoned to authorities on the basis of accusations filed by Groupement des Exportateurs des Litchis (GEL).

This follows the filing of a TI-MG report of potential corruption, fraud and money laundering in the lychee sector in Madagascar with the Anticorruption Court (PAC) in Madagascar and the “Parquet National Financier” in France. The aim is to get these courts to initiate official investigations that will confirm or refute these suspicions, and to impose penalties accordingly, if necessary. 

“It’s deeply concerning to see our colleague summoned to authorities after doing her job of exposing potential wrongdoing. We are following the situation closely and we are hopeful that the authorities will take immediate action to end what appears to be harassment by industry”

said Fatima Mimbire, representative of PWYP’s Africa Steering Committee for East and Southern Africa.

“A free civic space is vital for a country willing to end corruption and foster accountability. Human rights defenders are key to ensuring this can happen.”