By Yusufu Senessie
Corruption ambushes on any developmental advancement in life whether cooperate or personal level. Consequently, it aborts the dream of a well-set-up initiative in an exchange of selfish ambition and self-gratification. One of the fundamental reasons that contribute to the delay progress of developing nations, institutions and organizations is as a result of the resultant consequences of corruption by actors and players in certain vocations.
How corruption can be defined? According to the World Bank, it defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gains. Public office is abused for private gain when an official accepts, solicits or extorts a bribe. It is also abused when private agents actively offer bribes to circumvent public policies and processes for competitive advantage and profit. Public office can also be abused for personal benefit even if no bribery occurs, through patronage and nepotism, the theft of state assets or the diversion of state revenue. Because of the negative effect behind this carnage, decisions have been talking and implemented just to wipe of corruption in human existence.
BRIEF HISTORY OF CORRUPTION:
The war against corruption has been long since waged, yet the victory over corruption is still latent. However, the bogging question ask by many is “Can corruption be completely eradicated from human existence?” Well, in showing justice to the aforementioned question, it will be of good report to get the historical background of how corruption came to the fore. One of the reasons why we carry out historical research is to gain a clearer perspective of the present. We can understand contemporal issues better if we study their history.
Let us explore from the Scripture, the spiritual root of corruption.
To gain a comprehensive knowledge about the historical background of corruption, it could be traced way back in the far extremity of the well knowing stories in the Jewish Christina scripture that centered on Noah. In the book of Genesis chapter 6:10-12, God examined the entire generation of Noah, and Noah was the only soul that was found just before God; the whole earth was found corrupt before God. In Genesis 6:12 “And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Because man deviated from the original plan of God, He was angered with the then generation and decided to wipe off the entire generation with flood, and promised Noah to start new generation with him.
Indeed, corruption is one of the evil forces that oppose the reign of God. According to The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Jean- Marie, H (2012) Corruption radically distorts the role of representative institutions, because they are used as an arena for political bartering between clients’ requests and governmental services. In this way political choices favour the narrow objectives of those who possess the means to influence these choices and are an obstacle to bringing about common good of all citizens. The spiritual root that springs into corruption is deep from the human heart- Genesis 8:21. As human beings, we are conceived in evil and the scripture affirmed that the imagination of the heart of a man is evil continually, Jeremiah 17:9. When human hearts are not in fellowship with God, they are preoccupied with their own interests and fail to accept God’s will as the norm of action! Those who have real and genuine faith in Jesus Christ adopt a new lifestyle and opt for the reign of God by becoming friends of God. The friends of God must remove corruption from the world in a co-jointly with all stakeholders. They must help governments and companies to implement international legally binding measures against corruption. Transparency and integrity should characterize citizens involved in the building up of an environment that is totally free of corruption.
Moreover, looking into another facet of the historical account of corruption is the ash reminder of the Sub-Saharan African Pre-colonialist movement. The autocratic and dictatorial regimes of the British colonialists conditioned the enabling environment for corruption. The colonialists aided and abetted by missionaries and monopoly trading firms usurped the African people’s sovereign powers and presided over a fraudulent and corrupt accumulation system. These involved unequal terms of trade between the colonialists and African’s workers; including below subsistence wages, exorbitant taxation, etc.
During this scramble for partition in African territories by the African’s colonialists, for the British, to effectively administer their colonies, they implemented two types of administrative systems- the direct and indirect rule system.
All the coastal areas of the colonies were under direct rule by the British governors. The indirect rule system was implemented in the protectorate areas. In that way, the British ruled the people in the hinterland indirectly through the traditional rulers and their council. This set the tone for the nature of decolonization such that the structures left behind by the colonial masters encouraged and enhanced a new age of corruption. This system corrupted the chiefs because of the wide powers given to them to collect taxes and control or managed funds.
THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION
The Adverse Effects of corruption on both development and democracy are deeply touched in the hearts of many. Development is deterred when corruption floaters its wings over the common interest for all. Corrupt actors factor condition to siphon funds which are directed in the development of social amenities such as funds allocated to hospital, construction of roads and building of schools are trapped in to the hands of few corrupt individuals. In addition, foreign Direct Investment is also affected as investors are wary of doing business in corrupt environments. Foreign Direct Investments create jobs, infrastructure and opportunities for the country’s citizens, so if investors are deterred by corruption, then these opportunities are lost. Moreover, when corruption discourages investment, this leads to limitations on economic growth and an alteration of the pattern of government spending, it automatically hinders future economic growth and sustainable development. Corruption damages the image of the nation.
KEY FACTORS THAT GIVE RISE TO CORRUPTION
Firstly, politicization of the commission in charge to bring corrupt individuals who bear the responsibility of such crime allows corruption to go on unabated. The anti- corruption commission should be a body separated completely from any political affinity. The influence of politics in its daily activities can compromise its true ability in taking a decisive step against perpetrators of the ruling government of the day. The selective prosecution of individuals based on political affiliations has undermined the credibility of the anti-corruption campaign. There should be no close proximity between the commission and the presidency.
Second, the legal issue around immunity clause, potentially hinders the fight against corruption. There must be nothing like preferential treatment. The law should not provide immunity from prosecution for certain elected officials. The law should be for the interest of all. Anything more than that serves as a counter-productive in the fight against corruption.
Lastly, sentencing against corruption cases need not to be disproportional, high-profile individuals who are convicted of corruption, seem to get little or no time in prison while low-income individuals attract heavier sentences. Committers of corruption crime who, especially are of a high profile must be seriously squeezed to their drenched. That could serve as deterrent for others who are incandescent with corrupt action.
CONDITIONS THAT HELP TO MINIMIZE CORRUPTION
As a general view held by many people that corruption can’t be eradicated completely as a result of its fast rapid spread in society on human activities on a daily basis; however, a well-formed plan can drastically cut down its growing popularity.
Minimizing or eradicating corruption in the 21st century is a complex challenge that requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some strategies that can be employed:
Strengthening Institutions
Transparent Governance: Fundamentally, the establishment and enforcement of laws that crack down deeply on corrupt victims with the goal of promoting transparency in government processes is imperative in the fight for victory. This includes open budgeting, public access to information, and regular audits.
Independent Oversight Bodies: More so, the creation and empowerment of independent institutions to monitor government activities and investigate corruption without political interference. In another words, the independent oversight bodies must be firmly consolidated to be feet in executing their mandate.
Promoting Accountability
Whistleblower Protections: The idea of implementing strong protections for whistleblowers to encourage reporting of corrupt practices without fear of retaliation is crucial to advance this objective. In another way of saying that is, there must be a confidence building measure between anti- corruption commission and whistleblowers whose intelligence serves as an eye opener to the trick of those corrupters.
Effective Legal Frameworks: The government should develop comprehensive anti-corruption laws and ensure they are enforced consistently, with serious penalties for violations. With such stringent approach, it can help to ward off co-corrupters.
Encouraging Civic Engagement
Public Awareness Campaigns: The idea that support the motion which says ignorant of the law is no excuse, however, at the same time, there must be a system that creates an atmosphere to sensitize and educate citizens about the impacts of corruption and their role in fighting it. Empower communities to demand accountability from their leaders.
Participatory Governance: Everyone voice is equally important which will help to amplify and re-echo strong awareness in this collective fight. Therefore, the encouragement of citizen involvement in decision-making processes, such as public consultations and budgeting, to ensure that government actions reflect community is strongly needful in sounding the band of victory. In conclusion, corruption cannot be as powerful as our resolved determination not to be corrupted by or corrupt any, towards illegal acquisition.