Corruption Dea Alaki We Yah: A bo Na So? Governor Clarkson Im Prayers Must Ketch.... Corruption comes in two forms. Petty corruption occurs when citizens are asked for "cool water" (“a little something”): to get a document stamped, a service provided, or an infraction overlooked. The amounts are small, but hardly petty to the many victims living on less than $1 a day. Sierra Leone also have large-scale corruption— publ ic purchases made at inflated prices; public benefits handed out to people who are not entitled; fictitious companies being paid for contracts that they never executed. We read about such things in the paper day after day, and we hear large sums of money associated with behaviors of this kind.Corruption is clearly happening in Sierra Leone, and it involves not only the public sector, but also the private sector and civil society. It is certainly a drag on economic growth and poverty reduction. There are three things that any government needs to do to reduce corruption , and Sierra Leone’s track record is mixed: strong in two areas, but relatively weak in the crucial third. First, a government that is serious about fighting corruption needs to eliminate opportunities for corruption. This involves reforming institutions to minimize discretion and create checks and balances. Second, a government needs to be able to detect corruption when it occurs. This requires strong auditing mechanisms. There is no better deterrent to corruption than regular professional audits— particul arly when audit results are also shared with the public, which can then help to hold errant officials to account. We have seen some successes in this area recently in Sierra Leone. Third, and most important, a government needs to punish corrupt individuals to the full extent of the law. If audits indicate possibly corrupt behavior, the evidence of that behavior needs to be referred to competent investigators, who (as warranted) need to present the results of their investigations to prosecutors, who in turn need to pursue corruption cases aggressively through the courts. Judges need to have the courage to convict, when the facts and the law require it. Public officials who are under suspicion need to step aside so that investigations can go forward without interference. These steps are critical, and this is where Sierra Leone so far has not met the standards that law- abiding citizens can reasonably expect to be met.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 04:34:29 +0000
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