Introduction
Corruption is an act that many people wear like raincoat: eat with it, bathe with it, and mingle with it. It is the action of corrupting or the state of being corrupt. It can also be the act of taking advantage of others because one is more privileged than others. Liberia and Mongolia are the two most corrupt countries in the world in 2013, according to a recent study. In both countries, 86% of residents believe corruption in the public sector is a very serious problem (US Today News). The act of corruption is now part of the lifestyles of many politicians and the common persons in many countries. It appears in many forms and is found in many parts of the world. No nation of the world is completely free from corruption. Even any country people may see as the holiest has atoms of corruption in them. Anti-corruption non-profit Transparency International has released its 2013 Global Corruption Barometer, which surveyed residents in 107 countries. The world’s corrupt nations differ in many ways. Four are located in Africa, three in Latin America and two in Asia (US Today news on July 14, 2013).
The rate of corruption according to individual continents can be examined. The most corrupt country in Europe in the year 2013 according to Transparency International Corruption Perception Index is Ukraine. In the same year, in African continent, the most corrupt nation is Liberia, which is the world most corrupt country. The most corrupt nation in South-American continent, which was ranked by the same body, is Venezuela. This nation occupy the third most corrupt in the world. Corruption is bad and should not be treated with Kids glove. Mongolia is the most corrupt nation in Asia and second most corrupt in the world. Mexico is the most corrupt country in North-America and fifth most corrupt in the world.
The act of corruption has many causes and possible solutions on combating the menace. The causes of corruption are much, ranging from weak to solid causes. Notwithstanding these causes, corruption can be reduced. Many panaceas can be considered to limit “giving birth” of corruption in countries. Nations will wear a beautiful look if the solutions to be unfolded are adhered to.
Causes of Corruption
People do not indulge in corrupt practice because they like doing so, rather, there are causes. These causes of corruption are too many because they are dependent on the environment. The causes of corruption in North Korea may not be the same in Liberia, which is the world ’s most corrupt country in 2013. But in general, the causes of corruption are listed and explained below:
Poverty: Poverty as people say is a disease. This is one of the major causes of corruption in many places as the poor wants to make money either by hook or by crook. The poor do not have what they will eat and because of that, they engage in dirty activities to earn their living. Statistically, the most corrupt countries in the world are still battling with poverty. In 2010, about 48.5% of Sub-Sahara Africa population is poor based on $1.25 per day (World Bank rating). This means that 48.5% of the people that lived in African region were poor in 2010. When this is narrowed down to the 2013 corruption ratings of nations, Liberia and Ethiopia who occupied the 1st and 2nd position respectively in the list of the most corrupt countries in the world in 2013 are from African continent. Nigeria which is the world’s 8th most corrupt, which is located in Africa, is a victim of poverty. It is one of the challenges in Nigeria.
Illiteracy: This is ignorant in a particular subject or activity. Most corrupt countries in the world have the highest number of illiterates. Take for instance in Nigeria, those who are in the security departments are the illiterates. The policemen who are on duty are not learned. What they know is collecting bribes from the drivers and motorcyclists. They do not know that their bad acts are reported on daily news in the world. They paint the image of this country black without their knowing. The majority of the pipeline vandals are illiterates as well. They lack the knowledge that crude oil is inflammable. What they know is how to steal oil from the pipeline without counting on what they may lose. They fail to understand that the crude oil can easily catch fire and have their lives damaged. The pipeline vandals do not know the amount of money their country loses every year from their bad acts. All these acts are because illiteracy is of higher rate in the countries. To add to it, illiteracy can lead to high Unemployment in any nation.
Unemployment: This is the state of not being employed. Citizens who are not employed indulge in illegal activities to make money. They do this kind of thing because there are no job opportunities for them. Many who scam others through the internet and other means engage in this bad lifestyle because they think they can make it through that means. What concern somebody who makes “cool money” from his company work and internet scam? This is because the person in question does not have any place of work. Today internet scam is everywhere. These scammers have stolen a lot from their victims in many occasions.
Greediness: This is one of the major causes of corruption. People are not satisfied with what they have. They want to earn more. They more they have, the more they want to acquire. This is the problem with many political parties in the world. Some political parties want to be richer than the other. The politicians want to have the whole money in the country. They find joy in embezzling the public funds. Instead of using the public funds for public good, they use them for their own selfish interest. They divert the public funds to their private bank accounts. Some have acquired skills that earn income to them but they are not yet satisfied.
Weak Management: The managers of some companies do not take proper care of the activities going on in many countries. They do not have strong anti-corruption agencies. The presidents and governors of different countries find it very difficult to position capable hands in the anti-corruption departments. They hand the positions to those who are related to them instead of right people. Also, the male Chief Executive Officers in many companies take advantage of the female gender by compelling the later to have sex with them. This sexual harassment is growing wings in many countries of the world. This act is because the managers do not know what they are doing.
How to Stop/Reduce Corruption
The issues relating to corrupt practices of many nations can be reduced to minimal rate if the following solutions are applied:
Employment creation: The government and the individuals of all countries should create jobs for the masses. Those countries that lack technological development should invite other companies to help them. When these companies are established in the countries, more job opportunities will be created for the masses. When the masses make money from those companies, they can start-up their own businesses. This will result to creating more jobs for the citizens of the country. Skills acquisition programs should be held in many communities of the country. This will make the people to acquire skills that will help them in their lives. The people that gain those skills will expand with time and start employing others. They can have their mentors from the industries who will always listen to them, and that is why mentoring is important. Unemployment in Nigeria for instance is growing but the government of the country is working hard to close the gap. The problem of employment creation is problem to many countries of the world.
Education: This should be adopted by the government to reduce corruption. The security departments should undergo good education. When they are educated, they will be paid well by the government. This will also make them to understand that taking bribes from motorcyclists and motorists is a bad act. The policemen are the most number that indulge in this act. In eight of the nine most corrupt nations in 2013, more than 80% of residents considered the police to be corrupt (US Today News). The education will be both formal and informal. The education should be expanded down to many communities. This teaching will address the negative effects of corruption.
Installation of monitors: This involves the use of electronic monitors to access all the activities going on in all companies. There should be installation of the devices to fetch out those that engage in illegal activities. This will be managed by independent body of all nations. With the help of these monitors, those that harass the female gender will be brought to book. The installation of these monitors will be done secretly without the companies ’ awareness.
Anti-corruption bodies: This is introduction of agencies that fight corruption. Their duty is to fight corruption in the country and put things right. They settle corruption issues in all countries. The problem with some anti-corruption bodies is that many of them do not carry out their functions well. Many of them are too weak. Any country with strong anti-corruption body will win the war against corruption.
Conclusion
Corruption is a cankerworm which has eaten deep into the fabrics of my nations. The causes of corrupt practices and the solutions in combating it have been discussed.
References
US Today News on corruption issue on July 14, 2013.
2013 Transparency International corruption ranking.
2010 World Bank Ranking on Poverty.
, Corruption: Causes and Solutions www.ozeldersin.com bitirme tezi,ödev,proje dönem ödevi