Corruption |
Most Africans say corruption has risen in the past 12 months and most governments are seen as
failing to stop the abuse of power by senior officials engaged in
corrupt activities, according to a new opinion poll by Transparency
International.
In the report
entitled "People and Corruption: Africa Survey 2015, part of the Global
Corruption Barometer", TI partnered Afrobarometer, which spoke to 43 143
respondents across 28 countries in the sub-Saharan Africa between March
2014 and September 2015 to ask them about their experiences and
perceptions on corruption in their countries.
The majority (about 58 percent) of Africans in the surveyed countries say corruption has increased over the past 12 months.
In 18 out of 28 countries surveyed, the majority of people said their governments were not doing enough to fight corruption.
Despite these
disappointing findings, some bright spots across the continent were
observed in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Lesotho and Senegal, Transparency
International said.
For the first time,
people surveyed reported some business executives as highly corrupt.
Business ranked as having the second highest levels of corruption in the
region, just below the police.
The police is
regularly rated as highly corrupt, but the strongly negative assessment
of business executives is new compared to previous surveys.
Many Africans,
particularly the poor, are burdened by corruption when trying to get
access to key basic services in their countries. About 22 percent of
people that have come into contact with a public service in the past 12
months paid a bribe, the report said.
Of the six key
public services that were surveyed, the survey found out that people who
approached the courts or police for services might have been forced to
pay a bribe.
"Corruption creates
and increases poverty and exclusion. While corrupt individuals with
political power enjoy a lavish life, millions of Africans are deprived
of their basic needs like food, health, education, housing, access to
clean water and sanitation.
"We call on
governments and judges to stop corruption, eradicate impunity and
implement Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals to curb
corruption. We also call on the people to demand honesty and
transparency, and mobilise against corruption.
"It is time to say enough and unmask the corrupt," said Transparency International chairman José Ugaz.
While it is
increasingly becoming clear that citizens are key part of any
anti-corruption initiative, the survey finds that corruption reporting
mechanisms are often seen as too dangerous, ineffective or unclear.
More than one out of three Africans thinks that a whistle-blower faces negative consequences for reporting corruption.
"Our work as civil society is clear. We have to spread a message of hope across the continent.
"Corruption can be
tackled. People need to be given the space to stand up against it
without fear of retaliation and governments need to get serious about
ending the widespread impunity," said TI
It said unless it
is stopped, corruption will continue slowing development and economic
growth while weakening people's trust in government and accountability
of public institutions.
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