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NAG Calls for Accountability
in Local Government Initiative
Transparency
International, a Berlin-based global coalition against
corruption, just released this past Wednesday the results
of its worldwide Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI),
which measures expert and business peoples’ perceptions
about the state of corruption in a country. The annual
study is widely regarded as one of the most standardized
measures of corruption used internationally, and 2004
marked Sierra Leone’s debut in the CPI. Sierra
Leone ranked a pitiful 118th out of the 146 countries
included in the study, receiving one of the worst scores
even in West Africa and placing the country in bad company
with the likes of Congo and Zimbabwe. Coupled with the
country’s ranking at the very bottom (175 of 175)
of the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI),
it is apparent the dire straights in which the country
finds itself.
The
National Accountability Group (NAG) is concerned that
Sierra Leone’s continued inability to properly
address the issue of corruption could lead the country
again into chaos, as it is generally understood that
corruption was a major cause of the decade-long civil
war. Of particular concern is the Local Government Act
which is currently being implemented. With the inability
to control corruption on the national level, how is
it to be expected that local government will be any
less corrupt and any more effective at bringing progress
and development to the people? The lack of accountability
mechanisms in place at the local level is cause for
alarm, especially considering the broad mandate given
to Local Councils to manage natural resources, as well
as to levy and collect taxes. Thus, there is grave danger
that the decentralisation process could merely decentralise
corruption. NAG, therefore, emphasises the absolute
need to take a stand against corruption on the local
level to ensure that this does not happen.
We
hereby propose the Accountability in Local Government
Initiative (ALGI) as a counterbalance to the inevitable
forces of corruption on the local level that will come
to bear against the beleaguered citizens of Sierra Leone.
This initiative would entail civil society filling the
space created in Part 15 of the 2004 Local Government
Act, which allows for civil society participation through
the monitoring of Local Councils’ activities and
finances. The Act is not explicit about the form of
involvement, and thus it is up to us within civil society
to determine that role. For such a program to be effective,
however, the cause must be embraced by all of civil
society.
This
is our chance to make a tangible difference in the way
our government operates, and effective steps must be
taken to entrench the role of the people and civil society
in local government before the process is commandeered
by those looking for private gain. Therefore, we in
civil society must take the lead in ensuring that government
fulfils its role of providing services and development
to the nation. Our organisation will be persistent in
our efforts to hold government accountable and ensuring
transparency on the local level, but we cannot do it
alone.
National
Accountability Group
October 27, 2004
The full report on the 2004 Corruption Perceptions Index
is available online at:
http://www.transparency.org
The 2004 CPI results for African countries are available
online at:
http://www.transparency.org
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