Rand-Bassam hosts a crucial workshop for the adoption of a secure legal framework in favour of citizens who denounce financial and administrative abuses.

A new milestone is about to be reached in Côte d'Ivoire's legislative arsenal against corruption. The president of the High Authority for Good Governance (HABG), Épiphane Zoro Bi Ballo, launched a three-day national workshop this Monday, June 15, 2026, in Grand-Bassam. The objective: to examine and validate the draft bill on the protection of whistleblowers in Côte d'Ivoire.

According to a note from the HABG transmitted to the AIP, this meeting allows for the enrichment of the initial text before its integration into the official legislative process.

Securing the "links of public integrity"

Although Côte d'Ivoire has already modernized its institutions under the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara, Mr. Zoro Bi Ballo stressed the urgent need to fill a legal void. He believes that whistleblowers—whether civil servants, private sector employees, journalists, or members of civil society—are essential for exposing fraud and protecting the public interest.

"Whistleblowers are an essential link in the chain of public integrity," reaffirmed the president of the HABG, insisting on the absolute need to offer them a secure environment, safe from all professional, judicial or social reprisals.

What the future bill stipulates

The draft bill is structured around four major axes:

1. The framework: Precise definition of the conditions and procedures for reporting.
2. Anonymity: Strict guarantee of the confidentiality of the informants' identity.
3. Immunity: Legal and administrative protection against any form of sanctions or reprisals.
4. Governance: Clarification of the roles of the institutions responsible for collecting and processing these alerts.

A national and international synergy

This workshop brings together a wide range of stakeholders: institutions of the Republic, the private sector, civil society and public administrations.

To enrich the discussions, Côte d'Ivoire is drawing on international expertise. The event is co-organized with the support of the Francophone Open Government Support Project (PAGOF 2) and benefits from the technical support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) , which has come to share global best practices in this area.

Ultimately, this reform aims to consolidate public transparency and sustainably restore citizens' trust in their institutions.