Challenges of Corruption on the Development of Africa

Seminar paper from the year 2022 in the subject History - Africa, grade: 12+1, Bahir Dar University (Bahir Dar university), course: History, language: English, abstract: Corruption was not a major problem in Africa prior to colonialism. Following independence, African countries inherited severely corrupt institutions and laws. Again, African military leaders who rose to power rejected the colonial era judicial structures and check-and-balance mechanisms. Since independence, political and social institutions such as the courts, police, security services, and the media have been ostensibly anti-corruption. Corruption has harmed Africa's economic, political, and social development. Corruption reduces private investment and current resource productivity, widens income disparities, reduces foreign direct investment, cuts domestic taxes, and increases government spending. On a political level, corruption undermines democracy, damages governmental legitimacy, and tarnishes the continent's good image in the eyes of the outside community. Corruption has a negative impact.