Transcript What is Corruption?

What is Corruption?
•Bribing someone or
committing fraud to
get an unfair
advantage or for
personal gain.
Example:
When an official
accepts a bribe for
personal gain in
exchange for exemption
from the law.
Less than 5 =
MORE
CORRUPT!!!
More than
5= LESS
CORRUPT
3 Types of Corruption
• Political – Corruption taking place at the
highest levels of political power (President,
Ministers, & Senators taking and giving bribes.)
• Bureaucratic – Corruption occurring in the
private administration (People in City Hall,
County administration, and law enforcement.)
• Electoral – Fraud in voting during an election.
(Casting a vote for someone else.)
Examples in Africa:
 In Zambia, you can’t get a job or attend
school if you don’t bribe someone in higher
power.
 In Liberia, the war against corruption can
only be fought successfully, if all the corrupt
office holders are kicked out of government.
 In Botswana, there is ZERO tolerance for
corruption. It is illegal to offer or ask for a
bribe.
• Nigeria is the most corrupt country in Africa, and ranked
third in the world by many corruption watchdog groups
• Studies show that countries that have oil-based
economies tend to be corrupt
• Nigerian government doesn’t take action against local
corruption
• Industry sources say at least 100,000 barrels, or 4
percent, of national oil exports are stolen every day in
Nigeria, the world's eighth largest exporter
• Corruption has become so widespread in Nigeria that it
has become a part of day to day life
Corruption in Kenya
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Kenya is slowly replacing Nigeria as the most corrupt country in Africa
Examples: Kenyan adults pay about 2,670 Kenyan shillings (35USD) yearly
to the police as a “Bribery Tax”; Forged university degrees from some of the
countries most prestigious schools are sold on the floor below the offices of
the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Education; Foreigners can
purchase a Kenyan passport at the Immigration Ministry.
The government has tried to take actions against corruption including
forming the short-lived KACA (Kenyan Anti-Corruption Authority) which had
a purpose to identify corrupt practices and eliminate and persecute them. It
was disbanded after 2 years in 1999 because a constitutional court declared
it illegal.
The Goldberg Scandal – Cost Kenya 60 billion Kenyan Shillings (About 1/5 of
Kenya’s total GDP or Gross Domestic Product). In 1990, the government
gave a 20-percent premium on foreign currency deposited in Kenya’s
Central Bank hoping to persuade exporters to return their hard currency
earnings. Kamlesh Pattni’s company, Goldenberg International (claiming to
have processed gold and diamonds for export), looted the money from
Kenya’s Central Bank through loopholes in the system and help from
government officials and the president.
Effects on Africa:
o Corruption costs the economy of Africa
$148 billion dollars a year. (Officials use
money meant for farming for wrong
purposes.)
o By increasing the cost of goods and
services, corruption holds back
development.
o Increases the cost of goods as much as
20%.
o The people that are already in poverty are
affected the most by corruption.
Fighting Corruption:
 Make sure that what you are doing is not
against the law. (Nobody can say it’s illegal)
 Name and shame those responsible! (Point
out people who do wrong.)
 Develop transparent systems of authority
at all levels. (All actions being taken are
known.)
 All the offenders should face the full
punishment of the law. (If they do wrong,
then they will be prosecuted.)