Background of the Commission
Ethiopia’s Anti-corruption Endeavors
Background
Nowadays, corruption is recognized as a global problem which poses serious threat on the development of a country and its people. Corruption is an issue that affects all countries around the world. It can refer to the destruction of one’s honesty or loyalty through undermining moral integrity or acting in a way that shows a lack of integrity or honesty. It also refers to those who use a position of power or trust for dishonest gain.
Corruption comes in various forms such as bribery, law-breaking without dealing with the consequences in a fair manner, unfairly amending election processes and results, and covering mistakes or silencing whistleblowers (those who expose corruption in hope that justice would be served).
Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability. This dismal practice has resulted in undermining the legitimacy of governments, eroding confidence in leadership, diverting public’s money away from development projects, reducing productivity, hindering development, worsening poverty, marginalizing the poor and discouraging investment and spreading unrest and violence.
Although corruption is a universal phenomenon and exists in all countries, it is a more serious matter in less developed countries. Corruption in most developing countries is becoming a normal phenomenon exercised both in private as well governmental institutions. Its negative impact is reflected on the economic and political aspect of the society. Corruption impedes the development of markets, drive away investment, increase the costs of doing business and undermine the rule of law.