Introduction
Corruption in developing countries continues to be one of the greatest factors of poverty, development and internecine conflicts. Although many developing nations especially in Africa are endowed with priced natural resources, yet they continue to struggle and scramble for position in the lower rungs of the United Nations Development Index. Most developing countries continue to grapple with the ever changing trends in global politics, economic and technological advancements having little or nothing to do due to the debilitating effects of corruption on their very existence. From Zimbabwe to Nigeria, from DR Congo to Sierra Leone, corruption continues to have an adverse effect on the lives of the vast majority of the population. Sierra Leone, for instance, was ranked 122 among 149 nations in the 2007 corruption rankings. [1] This article seeks to look at some of the root causes of corruption in Third World Countries generally but with specific focus on efforts to confront it in Sierra Leone. It proffers recommendations to be considered in the unyielding fight to eradicate it.
Defining Corruption
Understanding the concept of corruption presupposes that one should have a clear dichotomy of what it entails and what constitutes it in the simplest term. There is no single accepted definition for the term ‘corruption’ because what may seem corrupt in one society may not necessarily be perceived as such in another. Though there have been different attempts to define it, there is no precise, clear definition that can be applied to all forms, types and degrees. According to Carl Friedrich, “Corruption is a kind of behaviour which deviates from the norm actually prevalent or behaved to prevail in a given context, such as the political. It is deviant behaviour associated with a particular motivation, namely that of private gain at public expense.” [2] The Oxford English dictionary defines corruption as “Pervasion or favour, the use or existence of corrupt practices especially in a state, public corruption, etc.” The most commonly used and popular definition is the one given by Leslie Palmier [3] according to this definition, corruption is seen asthe use of public office for private advantage. This definition is directly in line with Section 44 of Sierra Leone’s Anti Corruption Act 2008 which deals with the use of public office for private or personal aggrandisement.
Causes of Corruption
Developing economies are predominantly buffeted with barrages of corrupt practices that have deep anchorage in the socio-political and cultural psyche and existence in such nations. This is particularly so in Sub Saharan Africa where majority of the populations especially in the rural areas suffer untold hardship as a result of what can be termed as organised or systematised corruption. The causes of corruption are numerous and the situation is often similar in many ways among developing countries especially so among African countries as are discussed below.
Patronage ties between political elites and those they represent often place heavy informal obligations and demands on the former. Typically, such elected representatives are not only overwhelmed with financial pressure from their family, but also from kin, clan, hometown and tribal or ethnic constituents. Such obligations are almost always fulfilled through corrupt means. Thus the participants in corruption are many besides the politician or elite who actually engages in the act. Because of the absence of state welfare institutions in much of Africa, political constituents expect politicians representing them to cater to their quotidian and small scale infrastructural needs. [4] In other words neopatrimonial regimes become the rule, and the state emerges as an extension of the ruler’s household, patronage, ethnic and kinship ties and bribes become major modes for governance. Corruption funded patronage to kinsman and crimes have exacerbated regional, tribal, religious and ethnic divisions. [5]
Another cause of corruption is psychological. There are numerous psychological factors that can help to explain some types of corruption. Internally, some people are ‘naturally evil’ and will commit criminal acts, including corrupt ones in any type of system. Pressure and peer comparison can contribute greatly to acts of corruption especially so where the socially revered are the corrupt ones. This presupposes that in an environment where an individual see others around him/her benefiting from corruption, they may well choose to indulge too. Nepotism, that is, helping others because they are closely related to you can also be related in psychological term. The cliché ‘blood is thicker than water’ is common parlance in Sierra Leone. This can also be explained in terms of people wanting to entrench themselves or maximise their hold on power.
Moreover, monopoly of power can also be a cause of corruption in Africa. This could often apply or exist for the simple reason that people in power are the ones mainly charged with the responsibility governing. Thus, out of discretion they can expend such powers to perform acts of corruption as maybe dictated by their circumstances.
Furthermore, weak judicial system is also a serious cause of corruption. Most often, judicial systems are weak as a result of poor conditions of service. In such situations, it is the poor people that suffer the brunt of injustices as the rich always stand a better chance of getting justice over the poor. Furthermore, the absence of clear-cut separation of powers between the judiciary and executive arms often results in the latter exercising undue influence over the former. Such undue influence is most pervasive in situations where there is no guarantee of security of tenure for the judicial officers. In Sierra Leone, for example, the President has the power to appoints judges on contractual basis after their retirement without security of tenure of office.
Effects
The impact of corruption on developing countries cannot be overemphasized. The results are often disastrous. The eleven year civil conflict in Sierra Leone, for instance was largely attributed to pervasive corruption in all spheres of governance. The occurrence of corruption in large scale reflects in many areas of development and is intrinsically linked with under development. Poor conditions of service as is the case in many developing countries open the door to bribery. Corrupt officials often accept substandard quality of service because of kickbacks thus depriving the country of value added service from contractors and consequently resulting to the implementation of water washed roads or schools. Health care facilities remain inadequate and inaccessible because most times, drugs meant for especially children and women particularly in provincial clinics and hospitals could be easily seen on the shelves of private pharmacies.
One of the greatest impacts of corruption normally arises out of the choices and priorities of governments. This occurs when the real development priorities of a country are often neglected in favour of those that generate the greatest personal gains for the decision makers. Here, it is clearly evident that many projects have become white elephants and easy route for personal enrichment. When loans taken by governments on the pretext of undertaking some projects are diverted to private accounts and coffers, the attendant effect is that such loans would have to be paid with interest and at the same time increasing the debt burden of the country.
Efforts to Combat Corruption in Sierra Leone
Efforts to curb corruption in Sierra Leone could be traced to its recent past. In 2000, the former government established the Anti Corruption Commission in a bid to minimize corruption, regarded by the former President Kabbah as the primary reason for the country’s slow pace in terms of economic advancement. The ACC Act 2000 was however, marred with several defects, primary amongst which was the lack of independence of the Commission in prosecuting alleged corrupt officers. Secondly, the mandate of the Commission was severely limited to investigation and sensitization. Discretion for prosecution of cases was dependent on the discretion of the Attorney General. Upon accession to power, the current government took a step further by assenting to an amendment made on the 2000 Act in September 2008. This new Act gives prosecutorial powers to the Commission and guarantees it a high degree of independence from the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. It also provides incentives and protection for whistle blowers which should serve as a motivation for people to report acts of corruption thereby minimizing it prevalence.
Since the inception of the ACC in 2000, sixty five (65) cases have been charged to court, fifty six cases have been completed and out of these, thirty-four persons were convicted. [6] Some of the high profile cases the Commission has taken to court include the case against a High Court Judge, a sitting Magistrate and a Justice of the Peace. Other cases involving top officials include two senior Districts Officers, a Regional NEC Commissioner, a Police Commissioner, top officials of the Sierra Leone Postal Services, an accountant and two secondary school principals.
There are nine cases currently before the courts that are being prosecuted by the ACC. They include the case of the former Ombudsman, the former acting Director of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, a higher executive of the Public Service Commission and three officials of the National Revenue authority.
The ACC as the lead organization in the fight against corruption has as it current focus, working towards achieving the objective of the National Anti Corruption Strategy. The Commission has also adopted it own strategy. The objectives of the ACC’s strategic plan for the period 2008-2010 include the following (a) enabling the ACC to take a leading role in coordinating the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2) set and attain performance targets for it existing and emerging mandate areas and (3) build capacities (human, financial etc) required for it work in the period 2010-2010.
Fighting corruption effectively is a Herculean task and hugely depends on both the political will and financial resources. Amongst the challenges faced by the Anti Corruption Commission are finance, logistics in the form of vehicles, computers, printers, tape recorders and a host of other equipment required for staff to perform their work effectively. The Commission also needs trained and qualified staff with modern investigative and systems review techniques. The Commission also needs a better building facility for it to function adequately.
Recommendations/ Conclusion
Many developing countries and Sierra Leone in particular are miles away in achieving corruption free societies and as stated inter alia, the political will and financial support from central governments has to be sacrosanct for the fight against corruption to succeed. Though the Sierra Leone ACC now has prosecutorial powers as provided by the ACC Act 2008, the nolle prosequi provision in the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965, which gives power to the AG to discontinue an ongoing prosecution, can seriously inhibit the success of the Commission. It is therefore recommended that a clear dichotomy be made between these two provisions so as to prevent future clash on the basis of interpretation as to which one gains ascendancy in an Anti-corruption matter.
[1] See the 2007 rankings for 179 Countries, www. Worldaudit.org/corruption. htm
[2] See Fredrich, J. Carl. (1972) The Pathology of Politics: Violence, Betrayal, Corruption, Secrecy and
Propaganda. New York : Harper & Row, pp. 127-41 Quoted in Heidenheimer, J. Arnold ;
[3] Palmier, L. (1983) Bureaucratic Corruption and its Remedies. In Clark91983a) pp 207-16
[4] See Moses Ochonu (2008-11-26), Corruption and poverty in Africa: a deconstruction, www. Pambazuka .org
[6] Outreach section Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Commission