Ambassador Perry's Speeches

Anti-Corruption Seminar (7 APRIL 08)

Ladies and gentlemen, Good Morning

Thank you all for coming today.  It is terrific to see so many representatives from Parliament, the Office of National Security, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the National Police, Prisons and Customs.

The World Bank estimates that $1 trillion is paid in bribes each year throughout the world.  African countries are prominent among those identified by Transparency International’s Corruption Index, and the negative impact of bribes and embezzlement is compounded by a tendency for the illicit funds to be removed from the continent. 

The African Union estimates that the African continent loses as much as $148 billion a year to corruption. Rather than helping the people of Africa move forward towards independence and stability, this money is sent to international banks and financial markets worldwide. One group of international experts recommended that corruptions should be classified as a “crime against humanity” because of its massive impact on innocent populations.

Individuals who engage in corruption often do not intend to harm their countries as severely as they do.  They seldom think of the negative impact even small amounts of corruption have on society.  For example, if money is donated to build a road, but 10% of it is diverted to the pockets of certain authorities, the road is left incomplete.  Farmers then have difficulty transporting their goods to market before the produce spoils, and income is lost for entire villages.  Women and children in need of health care have difficulty traveling to hospitals and clinics, and so their conditions worsen – maybe to the point of fatality – before they can obtain help.

In the military, corruption means that rather than having funds for new boots or proper gear, soldiers are forced to use older, inferior items, which can make missions harder to complete and endanger military and civilian lives.  History shows us that a disgruntled military can even threaten the stability countries like Sierra Leone have worked very hard to achieve.

On a larger scale, international investors nearly always prefer to operate in a country free of corruption because bribery severely reduces profit margins.  So, every time someone charges an improper fee for a license or a signature, he or she costs the country capital, jobs, and infrastructure by driving off investors. 

The real impact of corruption extends beyond the tangible, though.  Citizens in a nation with corrupt officials are unable to trust their governments.  When citizens elect their leaders, they place trust in those leaders, that they will do everything in their power to improve the lives of the citizens – in areas like education, healthcare, and jobs. Even those leaders who are not elected – in government, business, and community – are entrusted by the individuals they represent and serve to work with integrity, to take the responsibilities of their posts seriously.

We all know the damage that corruption can cause – and has caused – to African nations.  The message I hope you take from this seminar is that responsibility for maintaining a zero-tolerance policy lies with every citizen.  If you have the opportunity to improve your personal gain at the expense of your fellow citizens, reject it.  If you see corruption at any level, report it.  Only with the cooperation of all the citizens of this country can Sierra Leone move forward with integrity, with dignity, toward independence and prosperity.

Thank you again for coming.