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Togo Launches All-Out Campaign to Eradicate Corruption

Winning the fight against bribery and corruption is crucial for sub-Saharan Africa, where nearly half of the population lives in poverty. Togo, one of many countries in the region plagued by corruption, has launched an all-out campaign to rid the country of corruption once and for all.

The Campaign

On September 13, 2018, Togo’s Prime Minister described the initiative as a consciousness-raising effort designed to bring about a change of behavior and mindset. The campaign is organized by the country’s anti-corruption authority, HAPLUCIA, and will be conducted through workshops. The aim is to show that corruption is everybody’s business and that only concerted efforts throughout society will stamp it out.

Corruption in Togo

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2017, Togo scores 32 on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), which places it in 117th position out of 180 countries. Corruption is notoriously hard to eradicate and affects all areas of society, from the public sector to utilities, schools, and hospitals.

International Efforts

The need to combat corruption has long been recognized internationally. The United Nations Convention against Corruption, which entered into force on December 14, 2005, requires states to implement anti-corruption policies, create domestic authorities to oversee the fight against corruption, and adopt measures to promote transparent and honest conduct.

Regional Efforts

At regional level, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which entered into force on August 5, 2006, covers similar ground. Its purpose is to promote and strengthen the development of mechanisms required to prevent, detect, punish, and eradicate corruption in both public and private sectors.

Hope for Change

Despite a battery of legal instruments, corruption persists in Africa. However, there are reasons to hope for change. Ivory Coast’s score on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index rose from 27 to 36 between 2013 and 2017, while Senegal improved its score from 36 to 45 during the same period.

Leadership and Resolve

Togo’s anti-corruption authority has shown leadership and resolve in launching this campaign, and there is reason to hope that it will bear fruit. Businesses operating and investing in sub-Saharan Africa must comply with local and international requirements imposed by good governance and anti-corruption policies.

Sources:

  • Togo First, “Lancement d’une campagne nationale de lutte contre la corruption”
  • Togo Presse, “Lutte contre la corruption : le premier ministre lance la campagne de sensibilisation”
  • Transparency International, “A redefining moment for Africa”
  • Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2017
  • African Union, President Buhari of Nigeria Launches the AU Theme of The Year 2018 on Fighting Corruption in the Continent
  • African Union, United Nations Convention against Corruption
  • UNODC, Country profiles
  • UNODC, African Union on Preventing and Combating Corruption
  • UNODC, Economic Community of West African States Protocol on the Fight against Corruption

Tags: African Union, bribery, corruption, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, UN Convention against Corruption.