Since the post-colonial Sierra Leone, corruption has been a cause for concern because it diverts already limited funds, undermines economic progress and impedes policy changes required for development.
Sierra Leone presents a typical case of countries in the world whose development has been undermined and retarded by the menace of corrupt practices. A series of reforms have been carried out in all the country so as to make the system efficient and result oriented. However, the anticipated gains of such efforts or reforms have not
been visible due to series of factors which include that of corruption.
Without doubt, corruption has permeated the our society and anyone who can say that corruption has not yet become a problem is either a fool, a crook or else does not live in this country. The situation has gone so bad to the extent that whichever way one views corruption, it involves a violation of public duty or deviation from high moral standards in exchange for (or in anticipation of) personal pecuniary gains. It is connected with moral and dishonest acts.
The effects of corruption are felt in the political and social, as well as the economic, spheres. Although the direct costs of corruption may be high in terms of lost revenue or
funds diverted from their intended use, the indirect costs in terms of the economic distortions; inefficiencies and waste resulting from corrupt practices are more problematic over the long-term and thus make it more difficult to address.
Corruption increases the costs of doing business, wastes resources, hence radically reduce revenues accruing to the country.
It also results in poor service delivery, “moonlighting” or multiple concurrent sources of employment and refusal to
perform normal functions without additional payment. Moreover, corruption deepen poverty and make it difficult for ordinary people to get ahead as the result of their own efforts. There is increasing evidence that the social and economic cost of corruption disproportionately affects the poor, who not only suffer from the lack of services and efficient government, but who are also powerless to resist the demands of corrupt officials.
Different arguments have been put forward to explain the pervasiveness of corruption in Sierra Leone these include poverty, the personalization of public office, the political culture and the inability of our leaders to overcome their colonial mentality in respect of their perception of public
office.
If corruption is relatively confined, growth will not be unduly affected. In other words, growth would be higher and more evenly distributed without corruption. Also, if the ‘profits’ from corrupt practices are re-invested into the economy, the negative effects of corruption may be somewhat mitigated.
The effects of corruption in Sierra Leone can be analyzed from three main perspectives – The political, economic and socio-cultural.
From the political view point, corruption has the capacity of engendering political instability, breakdown of law and
order, brain drain, inefficiency of the public service among others.
Viewed from the economic perspective, corruption is no doubt an enemy of economic development in both national and international scene, as it gives the country poor image interpersonal and business relationships. Mores, a nation that condones corruption is often besieged with a lot of economic and social vices.
Economic and social infrastructural facilities are vandalized to create room for unnecessary replacement and purchases or conversion to personal use. Trade and commerce cannot thrive, as investors will be unwilling to invest much trade or business in this part of Africa, the overall resulting effects of all these malpractices will be increase in the rate of inflation, unemployment and decline in output, foreign reserves and deterioration in the standard of living of the people.
In the socio-cultural context, corruption apart from engendering poverty has the capacity of changing the social values of a good and progressive society dramatically to nothing else than the crazy pursuit of wealth affluences, power and society recognition. People no longer appreciate the virtues of good morale, conduct and practices. Without doubt corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the country and our society and it continues with the people
almost permanently.
We should try not to present a typical case whose development and the desired change have been undermined and retarded by the menace of corrupt practices.
Corruption involves choices- it does not just happen. Fraud and corruption require that people both choose to engage in corrupt practices and have the opportunity to do so.
Strategies to address corruption therefore have to address the element of choice as well as that of opportunity. They have to make corruption a high- risk and low- gain, as opposed to a low-risk and high-gain, endeavour. Measures to address corruption have to be put in place in the country.
There is need to re-establish governmental legitimacy and re-build institutions as well as hitting hard at corrupt practices. Combating corruption is neither straightforward nor easy, but it is not impossible. A good number of countries in the world have moved from being generally quite corrupt to a situation in which corruption exists but is not widespread and pervasive. It is true that many of the industrialized countries did this over time, as political and economic competition became institutionalized and as adherence to the rule of law became more widespread” however, Sierra Leone has made series of effort with dealing with corruption.
Out there at the governmental and at the non-governmental level exists a growing awareness about the need to forcefully address corruption.
The problem and consequences of corruption are not only felt in our society – it has more than ever become increasingly a global issue, as the costs are felt beyond national borders. We must therefore constantly develop new strategies to meet the changing challenges which corruption presents. The need to prevent and combat corruption requires a consistent, coherent, broad-based approach and a long-term perspective. It has also shown that leadership, political will and public support are essential to the success of any anti-corruption effort and that the causes and not just the consequences of corruption must be addressed. Political leadership is required to both set an example and to demonstrate
that no-one is above the law by setting a high profile focus on specific actions which can be extremely useful in sending a strong signal that corruption will not be tolerated.
It is true that Sierra Leone has had legislation to prevent corrupt practices and stringent penalties for those found engaging in them, including blacklisting, seizing of assets, mandatory dismissal from public office and some time, legal action. In most cases however, these have been ineffectual because they have not been invoked or because important figures have been exempted. Political will is therefore essential to ensure that anti-corruption legislation and administrative measures are enforced.
Again, government implementing anti-corruption measures has to demonstrate seriousness and achieve results to build public confidence. This implies that it will have to pursue longer-term governance improvements and institution building goals as well as focus on specific actions which can have an impact in the short term.
Attention should be given to a mutually supportive broader policy of reforms – reducing government involvement in the economy, streamlining government functions and limiting the discretionary decision making authority of officials will reduce opportunities for corruption, while economic reforms can eliminate the government monopolies and economic distortions which facilitate it.
Again, there is a need for Sierra Leone to develop institutions such as the civil service, parliament and the
judiciary, which in turn will create interlocking systems of oversight and self-regulation. All of these institutions have to be free of corruption themselves and active players in the fight against corruption. Rule of law is also important to guarantee protection of human rights, ensure governmental predictability, and create a climate conducive to private sector activity and domestic and foreign investment and to enforce adherence to formal rules of behaviour. Court rulings have to be protected from political interference and judicial independence has to be assured. A functioning and professional legal system and access to justice are also necessary.
Furthermore, Parliament should create the legislature frame work for addressing corruption, as well as promoting governmental accountability and acting as a check on the executive. The creation of a meritocratic civil service is a basic requirement for limiting corrupt practices and rebuilding public confidence in the government bureaucracy. Similarly, a culture of honesty and professionalism needs to be created and this incentives as well as sanctions have to be employed.
Corruption cannot be seen in isolation. Its effects permeate societies. Without the active involvement of civil society, including the private sector and the population at large, it will not be possible to combat corruption. Societal attitudes can either encourage or discourage corruption. Changing attitudes is also a slow process, but the creation of a normative environment in which corruption is not condoned is essential.
Until the public at large is convinced that corrupt practices do not pay, they will continue. Anti-corruption strategies in Sierra Leone will be most effective when they are participative and inclusive of all stakeholders in the society. Participatory efforts should be made possible in order to ensure that the reforms (anti-corruption strategies) and political will to act against corruption and to strengthen governance generally is sustainable.
Corruption in Sierra Leone is costing the country so much and restricting its development. The consequences and
effects are also on the increasing side. In a bid to improve its reputation and ensure an environment conducive
to rapid economic and political change, everyone must be prepared to look inward at tackling the problems that is besetting the country for a long time. It is hoped that many of the reforms which have been established if
sincerely implemented will over a long time create the conditions which make corruption both more difficult and more risky to engage in.
- standardtimespress.net
