Hi Ndey,
That's a good one.Keep it up.
Fatou Harona Drammeh.
>From: James Gomez <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Briefings on the WADNET Conference in Abuja, Nigeria
>Date: Fri, 29 Oct 1999 09:34:36 -0700
>
>greetings, this is a test.
>
>thanks
>
>Ndey Jobarteh wrote:
>
> > 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
> >
> > ____________________________________________________________________
> > Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at
>http://webmail.netscape.com.
> >
> >
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the
>Gambia-L
> > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
> >
> >
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
