AFRICAN STUDIES

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND NETWORKING GROUP

CCB 201
CORRUPTION IN AFRICA
Corruption has always existed in different forms
In rich and poor nations, developed and developing
Involves individual states and international
organisations with cost borne by citizens
Corruption is worse than prostitution (Patrick
Lumumba)
Prostitution endangers morals of an individual
Corruption endangers morals of the entire country
CORRUPTION IN PRE COLONIAL AFRICA
Period before colonialism
Elders wielded considerable authority and influence
Together with the chief, they were legislators and
executives
Controlled the land, how it would be allocated
Officiated at ancestral shrines on behalf of the
people
These authority were sometimes abused making the
corrupt
CORRUPTION IN POST INDEPENDENCE AFRICA
10 most corrupt countries in the world
6 are in sub Saharan Africa (Transparency
International)
‘ Without doubt, corruption has permeated the
African society and anybody who can say that
corruption in Africa has not become alarming is
either a fool, a crook or does not live in Africa’ –
Chinua Achebe
CORRUPTION IN POST INDEPENDENCE AFRICA
The net effect of corruption in the view of Kofi
Annan
‘Corruption undermines economic performance,
weakens democratic institutions and the rule of
law, disrupts social order and destroys public trust,
thus allowing organise crime, terrorism and other
threats to human security to flourish
CORRUPTION IN POST INDEPENDENCE AFRICA
AU (2002) estimated cost of corruption in Africa at
$150billion per annum
Donor partners gave Africa $22.5 billion
Nationalist Africans condemned the evils of the
colonial system
African Nationalists quietly admired the life styles of
the colonisers
Some of the colonial officials were said to be corrupt,
Drunkenness and sleeping with local people
CORRUPTION IN POST INDEPENDENCE AFRICA
The African Nationalists after independence
became paternalistic, patronizing and
authoritarian
They came to power to amass wealth
Some African leaders became wealthier than the
states the governed leaving majority of the
citizenry in abject poverty
FORTUNES OF SOME AFRICAN LEADERS
General Abacha Nigeria $20billion
General Babangida Nigeria $ 5billion
President H. Boigny Ivory Coast $ 6billion
Mobuto Sese Seko Zaire $5billion
Mousa Traore Mali $ 2billion
Dennis N’guesso Congo $200million
Omar Bongo Gabon $80million
Paul Biya Cameroon $70million
Hassene Habre Chad $3million