Despite gains in some countries, the level of corruption in Africa has largely remained the same, a new report by Transparency International has revealed.
The report scores countries based on their perceived levels of public sector corruption, with a lower score indicating a higher level of corruption.
The average score for Sub-Saharan Africa is 32 out of 100, with several countries scoring below 20, highlighting the need for strong anti-corruption measures and greater transparency to address these issues. The COVID-19 pandemic is said to have exacerbated the problem, as corruption has prevented effective response and recovery efforts.
According to their scores, Seychelles has their highest score at 70, followed by Botswana and Cabo Verde both which have 60. Burundi (17), Equatorial Guinea (17), South Sudan (13), and Somali (12) had the lowest scores.
Here is a list of Sub-Saharan African countries ranked by their score in the ‘CPI 2022’ report:
- Seychelles – 70
- Botswana – 60
- Cape Verde – 60
- Rwanda – 51
- Mauritius – 50
- Namibia – 49
- Sao Tome and Principe – 45
- Benin – 43
- Ghana – 43
- Senegal – 43
- South Africa – 43
- Burkina Faso – 42
- Tunisia – 40
- Ethiopia – 38
- Morocco – 38
- Tanzania – 38
- Cote d’Ivoire – 37
- Lesotho – 37
- Gambia – 34
- Malawi – 34
- Sierra Leone – 34
- Algeria – 34
- Angola – 33
- Zambia – 33
- Kenya – 32
- Niger – 32
- Djibouti – 30
- Egypt – 30
- Eswatini – 30
- Mauritania – 30
- Togo – 30
- Gabon – 29
- Mali – 28
- Cameroon – 26
- Liberia – 26
- Madagascar – 26
- Mozambique – 26
- Uganda – 26
- Guinea – 25
- Central African Republic – 24
- Nigeria – 24
- Zimbabwe – 23
- Eritrea – 22
- Sudan – 22
- Congo – 21
- Guinea Bissau – 21
- Democratic Republic of Congo – 20
- Chad – 19
- Comoros – 19
- Burundi – 17
- Equatorial Guinea – 17
- Libya – 17
- South Sudan – 13
- Somalia – 12
One of the reasons for the rise in corruption in the region is weak governance and a lack of accountability. This is said to cause a culture of corruption that permeates all levels of society and makes it difficult to address the problem effectively.
Additionally, poverty and income inequality are also factors that contribute to corruption as people are more likely to engage in corrupt behavior when they feel they have few other options to make a living.
On a monetary basis, corruption drives away resources from key sectors and has a detrimental effect on the economy as it stunts growth and hinders development. In addition, corruption can discourage foreign investment as investors are wary of investing in countries where corruption is rampant.
Some of the suggestions for addressing the problem include measures such as strengthening anti-corruption laws, increasing accountability for corrupt officials, and improving transparency in government processes.
According to Transparency International, in order for the region to achieve its full potential, it is imperative that leaders take action to address corruption and promote transparency.
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