Causes and effects of corruption In Ivory Coast
In Ivory Coast, corruption in its many forms remains to be the main cause of the economy’s slow growth and development. The country has embraced corruption and cases of corruption no longer seem to be dealt with, those in charge of fighting and stopping it show delays in handling corruption cases and sometimes never handle them. Corruption has become a major threat to investment. Here judicial proceedings, customs, tax issues, and even contract awards have been affected by corruption deeds of the leaders and the citizens as well. Even obtaining an official stamp or a copy of birth certificate for your children you have to bribe the person in charge.
Causes of corruption
- Colonial and political roots
In the post-colonial era most of the African countries separated and turned away from their colons but Ivory Coast instead kept close ties with France. The relationship brought technical and military assistance from France. But it has also been a root cause in influencing the country into corruption. Leaders in Ivory Coast have inherited the former colons corrupt ways and culture. Just as the colons they fight for personal gains something that has made them concentrate on corrupt ways to gain personal wealth. In the result the rest of the population has been left to struggle with their poor living standards. And this has forced them to consider corruption to survive.
On the political side after the first president died in 1993 the country faced repetitive instabilities. The instability caused a series of insecurities, corrupt judicial structure, and corrupt government practices. Political instability presents corruption and fraud grounds and the insecurities encourage them to keep spreading. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
- Judicial roots
The Ivorian current judicial environment shows a weak point in fighting against corruption. The administrative system shows delays in handling corruption cases and this has pushed citizens into considering or opting for informal and illegal ways of handling things and this has led to slowing down the growth of the economy. Corruption cases are regularly reported but those in charge seem to take no action. The judicial system is considered to be a failure and hence discredited and therefore citizens are not even afraid to be caught in irregularities.
- Sociocultural and economic roots
A country’s socioeconomic state is closely related to its level of corruption. Tribalism and wrong use of political power in Cote d’Ivoire are greatly affecting the country’s professional sector. The case ethnicity diversity has led to people acting selfishly. Leaders are more focused on developing their regions and families financially.
While at the social level, corruption has been influenced by the increase in social inequality that results from leaders selfish acts. Country’s resources are poorly managed and job opportunities are offered on tribal grounds.
In schools, corruption has taken root as well. Students are afraid to fail their examinations. And parents seem to agree to the corruption by bribing teachers in order to ensure that their children pass the national examinations.
Effects of corruption
- Economic effects
Corruption major impacts fall on the economic sector. Economy analyzers and experts in Cote d’Ivoire say that corruption has slowed down the country’s public service performance and resulted in delays in administrative services. Tribal considerations have caused waste of public resources and hence lowering growth of the economy. Foreign investors are scared to invest in the country. They fear that if they do invest they are likely to jeopardize their funds because of the nation’s corrupt environment.
- Sociocultural consequences
Corruption does just affect the economy sector alone but it also influences the societal ways of performing activities. Due to corruption educational qualification in Ivory Coast now stand to be questioned. Most students obtain their exam results through corruption and this has led to the education system to be discredited as well. Schools and universities have embraced corruption and therefore the originality of school results cannot be fully trusted or relied on to term someone competent to perform economic and other societal activities.
- Transport effects
Corruption has affected the corruption area of Ivory Coast greatly. Cases have been reported regularly of there being non-official and illegal checkpoints. Most of this checkpoints remain invisible and in the interior of the country. Citizens are asked to pay bribe during their traveling and it ends up costing them a lot of transport fees and transport taxes as well. When transport prices increase the goods and services in the market increases as simultaneously, therefore, causing people to have unbearable lives.
In conclusion, corruption is one open sore that can repeatedly weaken a country’s economy and strike down the chances of having a brighter future for the coming generations. Every individual, company or society in a corrupt country should be concerned with what has to be done to stop corruption. In Ivory Coast, is spread throughout every sector of its economy and to fight back such corruption state, the country needs to identify the priorities and prepare to address the issues sector after sector. Anti-corruption measures should be developed and enacted fully.