THE ROOT CAUSE OF WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION IN SUB SAHARAN POSTCOLONIAL NATION STATES
Keywords:
Corruption, SUB-SAHARAN POSTCOLONIAL NATION-STATES, public misconduct, bribery, misallocation of resources, misuse of power, social injusticeAbstract
Corruption, which has always existed, is today an obstacle to effective good governance. In many parts of the world corruption in the form of public misconduct has led to illegal and morally crooked practices such as bribery, misallocation of resources and the misuse of power and influence for personal or corporate gain at the expense of the wider society. The disturbing trend of corruption has devastating consequences for the well-being of the society. Corruption is a symptom of bad governance and threatens both public institutions and social development. It causes social injustice by generating inequality in resource distribution and hinders the economic growth of developing countries by taking away the vast resources made available for social programs. This often leads to oppression, poverty, tragic conflicts and violence. Linked with drug-trafficking, moneylaundering, illegal trade of arms and many other forms of criminality, corruption is harmful to economic growth.
References
Hwa Yung, Bribery and Corruption: Biblical Reflection and Case Studies for the Market place in Asia, Singapore: Gracework, 2010.
OECD convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (1997).
The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (2003).
The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.
The Council of Europe Conventions on Corruption (1997-1999).
The Inter-American Convention against Corruption (1996).
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) 1997.
