On December 22, 2009, BBC News posted an interview with Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf discussing her executive order that whistleblowers will be paid five percent of the money recovered from any investigation resulting from their disclosures. The aim is to provide a major incentive to fight corruption. A key component of the program is that whistleblowers who think they will lose their jobs or be harassed for coming forward will be given transfers. President Johnson-Sirleaf believes that there is a lot of corruption within Liberia, but Liberians are afraid to report their colleagues. Johnson-Sirleaf discussed how corruption is systemic within her country, and challenging the established norms of protecting one’s family and tribe has cultural implications but the culture must change and accountability and transparency must be established in order for the country to develop.
Corruption is often a key concern within developing countries because developing countries are constrained by limited resources and corruption can cause great disturbances both by detracting resources and by weakening credibility, making donors and investors less likely engage and invest. The program in Liberia seems like a good first step in fighting corruption but it is unlikely Liberians will be come forward with accusations of corruption until they are assured through precedent, not just rhetoric, that their jobs and reputations will be protected.
For the complete interview,
see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8426052.stm.
Comments