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Barriers towards combating corruption in Africa
Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA)
July 18, 2011

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Executive summary

The purpose of the survey was to elicit perceptions of individuals and institutions on the extent to which African governments were committed to combating corruption. Further, the study sought perceptions on the effectiveness of institutions dealing with combating corruption such as Anti- Corruption Commissions, the Police and the Judiciary. Data used for the analysis was obtained through an online survey that was disseminated using e-mail, facebook and websites. Participant countries included: Bangladesh, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Namibia, Netherlands, Malawi, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Further, a number of anticorruption bodies completed the online survey questionnaire.

The following findings were made:

a) 71% of the survey participants indicated that that some African governments were not genuinely committed to combating corruption. Participants felt that there was no convincing evidence of the commitment since corruption was still widespread. 11% indicated that some governments were committed though their efforts still had some holes, which casts into doubt the commitment thereto;

b) Significant barriers to efforts towards anti-corruption included: corrupt leadership (25%), inadequate anti-corruption legal frameworks (10.7%), culture of corruption (7.1%) and compromised anti-corruption bodies (3.6%). However, 53.6% confirmed all the four barriers are significant barriers in the fight against corruption;

c) The majority (79%) of the survey participants indicated that many African States were not sincerely signing and ratifying anti-corruption instruments. This was done to appear committed and cheat donors into giving resources, rather than a true reflection of commitment;

d) The performance of anti-corruption commissions, the police and the judiciary in Africa was largely unsatisfactory. The survey confirmed that 50%, 22.2% and 14.3% were 'very dissatisfied' with the police, anti-corruption commissions and the judiciary respectively. Further, 39.3%, 48.1% and 57.1% were 'dissatisfied' with the performance of the police, anti-corruption commissions and the judiciary respectively. Further, 39.3%, 48.1% and 57.1% were 'dissatisfied' with the performance of the

Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made:

a) Leadership at all levels including prospective Heads of States should be formally vetted before taking office;
b) African governments should adequately fund the police, judiciary and anti-corruption bodies in order to make them more effective;
c) Governments should refrain from signing and ratifying anti-corruption instruments in order to appear interested in fighting corruption, yet they are not.
d) Regional and international bodies such as the SADC, AU and UN should make the implementation of anti-corruption instruments by all signatories mandatory. These bodies should specify time frames within which the implementation should be done and sanctions for failing to do so. Such sanctions can include but not limited to automatic cancellation of the signature and ratification thereof.
e) African governments should strengthen institutional ties and synergy between institutions dealing with combating corruption (e.g. Anti-Corruption Commissions, The Judiciary, The Police, Assets Recovery Agents and other relevant government departments).
f) Educational programmes aimed at behavioural change should be rolled targeting people at all levels including children should be rolled out.
g) Anti-corruption laws and policies should be reformed in line with anti-corruption good practices and implemented without fear or favour.
h) Banks that are accepting corrupt money from dictators and others should be named, shamed and blacklisted.
i) Empower and capacitate civil society to play a more effective monitoring and intervention role in order to enhance the fight against corruption on the continent.

Introduction

The purpose of this survey was to elicit perceptions of individuals and institutions on the extent to which governments are committed to combating corruption and the effectiveness of institutions dealing with combating corruption such as Anti- Corruption Commissions, the Police and Judiciary. Data used for the analysis was obtained through an online survey that was disseminated using e-mail, facebook, and websites. Participant countries included: Bangladesh, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Namibia, Netherlands, Malawi, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Further, a number of anti-corruption bodies completed the online survey in question.

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