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Evolution of Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa - from Nkruma to Mutharika The 2nd: Case Study of South Africa

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  • Mavhungu Abel Mafukata

    (Centre for Development Studies, University of the Free State, Internal Box 100, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa)

Abstract

Since Sub-Saharan Africa's first independence in Ghana, the region has experienced massive and costly political and bureaucratic corruption within public service and administration. The causes of the corruption, its nature and form are wide and intertwined. In Sub-Saharan Africa, efforts to curb corruption have failed to discard it. The paper focused on the period from Nkruma in Ghana to Mutharika the 2nd in Malawi. This paper reviewed existing literature on political and bureaucratic corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa while on the other hand the paper employed key informant interviews to gather the required data to investigate, analyse and profile the genesis and evolution of corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa. The key informant interviews were employed to solicit public views and opinion from nineteen key informant participants (n=19) selected from 11 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper found that corruption is legendary; has entrenched itself to becoming some sort of culture in the region, and has become the most difficult socio-economic challenge to resolve in the region despite the various anti-corruption efforts employed by stakeholders to curb it. It emerged through the study that law-enforcement efforts against corruption need some reinforcement in order to be effective and eficient in uprooting corruption in the region. If Sub-Saharan Africa fails to address its corruption challenge, its development prospects would seriously curtailed. Key Words:Bribe, Corruption, FDI, Political Entities

Suggested Citation

  • Mavhungu Abel Mafukata, 2015. "Evolution of Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa - from Nkruma to Mutharika The 2nd: Case Study of South Africa," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 4(1), pages 87-112, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:4:y:2015:i:1:p:87-112
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    References listed on IDEAS

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