"Africans see increasing corruption but fear retaliation\u00a0if they report it\u00a0"

" Africans see increasing corruption but fear retaliation \u00a0 if they report it \u00a0 \r\n\r\n A majority of Africans say that corruption has increased in their countries, but an even larger\u00a0 proportion fear retaliation should they report corrupt acts to the authorities.\u00a0 \r\n\r\n Maame Akua Amoah Twum, Afrobarometer communications coordinator for anglophone\u00a0 West and North Africa, shared these insights at a webinar on corruption organised by the\u00a0 Data for Governance Alliance, in collaboration with the African Union Advisory Board\u00a0 Against Corruption. Themed \u201cCivil society organisations\u2019 contribution to driving\u00a0 accountability in the fight against corruption in Africa,\u201d the webinar brought together\u00a0 experts, policy makers, and civil society actors to reflect on the prevalence of corruption on\u00a0 the continent, its impacts, and innovative strategies for effectively combating it.\u00a0 \r\n\r\n Sharing findings from Afrobarometer surveys in 36 African countries in 2021\/2022, Twum said\u00a0 almost six in 10 Africans (58%) say that corruption in their countries increased over the past\u00a0 year. The situation has worsened significantly in 12 of the 30 countries surveyed in both\u00a0 2014\/2015 and 2021\/2022, most dramatically in Senegal (where perceptions of increasing\u00a0 corruption have risen by 39 percentage points), Burkina Faso (+29 points), Gabon (+24\u00a0 points), Cameroon (+23 points), and C\u00f4te d'Ivoire (+22 points). On the other hand, there has\u00a0 been a drastic improvement in Benin, where the proportion who report that corruption\u00a0 increased dropped by -61 percentage points.\u00a0\u00a0 \r\n\r\n \u201cThe survey findings highlight the urgent need for African governments to prioritise anti corruption efforts and regain public trust. It is crucial to establish robust mechanisms for\u00a0 citizen engagement, protect whistleblowers, and build accountable institutions that actively\u00a0 work toward eradicating corruption,\u201d she said. \u201cHowever, seven in 10 Africans say ordinary\u00a0 citizens risk retaliation or other negative consequences if they report corruption to the\u00a0 authorities.\u201d\u00a0 \r\n\r\n Other speakers emphasised the importance of concerted efforts on the part of civil society\u00a0 organisations (CSOs), the media, and other stakeholders to combat corruption on the\u00a0 continent.\u00a0\u00a0 \r\n\r\n Edem Senanu, a member of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption,\u00a0 highlighted strides the board has made in its anti-corruption efforts with member states.\u00a0 \r\n\r\n \u201cMany state parties have put in place institutions such as anti-corruption agencies, financial\u00a0 intelligence units, asset recovery agencies, and anti-corruption units within law enforcement\u00a0 agencies,\u201d he said. \u201cWith the regional economic communities\u2019 role in promoting the fight\u00a0 against corruption and the implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing\u00a0 and Combating Corruption, more synergies and collaboration will reduce corruption on the\u00a0 continent.\u201d \r\n\r\n Don Deya, chief executive officer of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), challenged CSOs\u00a0 to take the fight against corruption farther through social movements.\u00a0 \r\n\r\n \u201cWhile \u2018NGO-style\u2019 activism is necessary, it is not sufficient,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s think more\u00a0 radically. Let\u2019s also be more political, and use an anti-corruption lens to assess political\u00a0 candidates and political parties, especially during election periods.\u201d\u00a0 \r\n\r\n Paul Banoba, Africa adviser at Transparency International, highlighted the importance of\u00a0 data in informing policy and advocacy efforts.\u00a0 \r\n\r\n \u201cOur focus as a network is to use data to inform planning policy uptake and advocacy in\u00a0 Africa,\u201d he said. \u201cIt comes from a background that our work as civil society in Africa is mostly\u00a0 done without an informed basis.\u201d\u00a0 \r\n\r\n Shedding light on the role of the media in the fight against corruption, Kojo Pumpuni, director\u00a0 of advocacy and policy engagement at the Center for Democratic Development, said,\u00a0 \"Immediate and persistent effort in the media is required to amplify corruption and receive a\u00a0 response from the government.\u201d\u00a0 \r\n\r\n The webinar was organised as a precursor to the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the\u00a0 African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), which will\u00a0 be celebrated on 11 July 2023 in Arusha, Tanzania.\u00a0 "

"Africans see increasing corruption but fear retaliation\u00a0if they report it\u00a0"

Finance Chief projects positive medium-term economic trajectory amidst fiscal reformsAMP

Government approves GHS 2.3 billion for National Investment Bank recapitalizationAMP

Lands Ministry, Tullow Oil sign landmark emissions reductions purchase agreementAMP