The tenth edition of the Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) Africa has revealed that the police service is considered the most corrupt institution worldwide.
Released on African Anti-Corruption Day, the GCB report reveals that a global average of 47 percent of people believes that most or all police are corrupt and in South Africa, this figure rises to 49 percent.
Transparency International in partnership with Afrobarometer conducted the survey between the end of July and September 2018.
As in the 2015 edition of the GCB for Africa, the police consistently exhibit the highest bribery rate across the continent. The GCB is the largest, most detailed survey of citizen views on corruption and bribery in Africa.
According to the report, the range of corruption challenges that African citizens face is complex and multifaceted, requiring fundamental and systemic changes.
Meanwhile, Corruption Watch explains that of the 47,000 citizens surveyed in 35 African countries, more than half believe corruption is getting worse in their country, while 59 percent think their government is doing badly at tackling corruption.
The survey is titled: “Global Corruption Barometer Africa 2019: Citizens Views and Experience on Corruption.” It is the 10th edition.
According to Transparency International, corruption is hindering Africa’s economic, political and social development.
“It is a major barrier to economic growth, good governance and basic freedoms, such as freedom of speech or citizens’ right to hold governments to account.
“More than this, corruption affects the well-being of individuals, families and communities. While it varies extensively across countries and public institutions, corruption harms hundreds of millions of citizens by undermining their chances of a stable, prosperous future.
This 10th edition of the Global Corruption Barometer – Africa shows that the range of corruption challenges that African citizens face is complex and multifaceted.
About 69 percent of those who participated in the survey ticked the police as the most corrupt institution, 60 percent went for members of the parliament, 51 percent went for judges, while 43 percent chose the executive arm of government.
Others are local government officials (55%), government officials (54%), NGOs (40%), business executives (44%), traditional leaders (35%) and religious leaders (20%).
