I just got back from Abuja, Nigeria where i was coordinating a training
workshop on Leadership and Management for Nigeria Women NGOs. During this
trip we had the West Africa Democracy Network(WADNET) Conference at the ECOWAS
Secretariat in Abuja.
The Theme for the conference was "Organising for Sustainable Democracy and
Development in West Africa in the Next Millenium" and the Sub themes include:
Democracy and the Rule of Law
The Civil Society and Democracy
Democracy and Development
Democracy and Diveristy
Peace Building and Conflict Management
Transparency and Accountability
Many issues were raised during the three days conference and I find the
session on Transparency and Accountability very interesting and
challenging.For that reason i decieded to get a summary of the session and i
hope that we will be able to explore the issue further.
The Struggle Continues!!!
Ndey Jobarteh
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
PRESENTER: GENERAL ISHOLA WILLIAMS (TRANSPARENCY
INTERNATIONAL,
NIGERIA)
MODERATOR: MR. SADIKOU AYO ALAO, PRESIDENT (GERDDES AFRIQUE,
COTONOU,
BENIN)
COMMENTATOR: LARRY DIAMOND, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW (HOOVER
INSTITUTION,
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA)
RAPPORTEUR: MRS. BINTA MANSARAY ( CAMPAIGN FOR GOOD
GOVERNANCE, SIERRA
LEONE)
The moderator introduced the subject of the panel. He set the tone for the
ensuing discussion by saying that the problem of
Transparency and Accountability is that of bad governance. He also mentioned
that to promote Good Governance, one must fight against corruption and there
should be a separation of powers as well as co-operation among the branches of
government.
General Williams focused his presentation on corruption . In his view the
elites in society are the corrupt social class because they have the
political and economic access and opportunity to be corrupt. He described
four categories of elites like - 'The Mafia', 'Fragmented Patronage',
'Elite Hegemony' and 'Group Interest Bidding', all of whom use the power of
their ill-gotten wealth for influence peddling, making and breaking leaders as
and when it is convenient and holding the democratic system to ransom.
According to the presenter, the rural people and the Grassroots who are so
far removed from the elites are not corrupt because they lack the economic and
political access to be so, and they don't even understand the workings of the
political game. Dr. Larry Diamond supported the notion that there is a
psychological, social, economic and political gap between the governed and the
leaders. He however pointed out that corruption is not a monopoly of the
elites, arguing also that it cuts across social classes as there is corruption
at the very top and at the grassroots level. His argument was buttressed by
most participants in the audience. It was also noted that as wealth corrupts
the elite, so the lack of it corrupts the poor. There was a general feeling
during the discussion that corruption is endemic in African societies even
though it is a universal problem.
THE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION :
Corruption as a pervasive evil practice has its attendant effects. During the
discussion the following effects were highlighted:
A. The Rich and Powerful minority deny the poor and powerless majority
equal access to national wealth and the exercise of political power.
B. It exacerbates poverty and inequality
C. It impoverishes states - a reference was made to the keynote
speaker's
(Ms.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf) address in which she mentioned that the private
capital of Africans abroad is worth one hundred and fifty billion US dollars
which is a substantial drain on the African economy. The late President Abacha
of Nigeria and President Mobutu of Zaire were mentioned as some of the most
corrupt leaders who embezzled their countries resources. The audience wanted
to know how the International community and the banks can help African states
recover embezzled money - this question was not answered by the panellists.
HOW TO CONTROL CORRUPTION:
A. Decentralisation was mentioned as a means of controlling corruption. The
panelists felt that if government is brought close to the people and they
ultimately take control of their resources, the level of corruption will be
minimized.
B. Political system reform - candidates must present their plans for their
communities to the electorate before elections so that they will be elected on
merits.
C. The presenter and the commentator disagreed sharply on where to start to
control corruption. The presenter thought that corruption must be controlled
from the bottom, meaning community levels to the national level, meaning top
level of government. The commentator felt that one must start at the highest
level of government to fight corruption and it will flow downwards.
D. Asset Declaration - It was suggested that high level elected officials,
civil servants and political appointees must declare their assets before and
every year thereafter. High-level officials should make these declarations
public, with an empowered anti-corruption commission and Judiciary to
investigate and prosecute any fraudulent misrepresentation of assets.
CONCLUSION:
It is interesting to note that during the discussion, what came out in a
compelling way was the pervasiveness of corruption, its causes, effects
and ways of combating it. Except for a brief mention of asset declaration,
Transparency and Accountability were not explored as the main issues of the
panel. No mention was made of how Transparency and Accountability could be
instruments for deterring corruption, promoting democracy and foster good
governance. In other words, what was not established was the fact that
Transparency and Accountability of the political, economic and administrative
activities of elected officials and democratic institutions to the
electorate are imperatives for ensuring Good Governance. Furthermore,
Transparency and Accountability in the civil society organisations and
non-governmental organisations are necessary for the moral authority to deal
with the lack of it in government.
For any further information regarding this conference or WADNET please contact
the Centre for Democracy and Development
12 Leathermarket
Weston Street
London SE1 3ER
UK
Tel: 0171 407 0772
Fax: 0171 407 0773
Email:[log in to unmask]
Website:http:/www.cdd.org.uk
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