The
two-day awareness-raising and validation workshop on the Draft Anti-Corruption
Bill 2016 commenced yesterday by the Ministry of Justice has demonstrated the
commitment of the powers that be in The Gambia to put in place penal measures
to curb the menace of corruption affecting nations the world over.
Corruption,
as was stated by the Justice Minister at the commencement of the workshop
yesterday, is indeed “the number one enemy to the progress and development of
any country, especially developing countries”.
This
is because where corruption prevails, nothing good that facilitates national
development is given the opportunity to work.
Because
in any society where such vices as nepotism, misappropriation of state funds
and other resources, fraud, bribery, venality and sleaze have become the order
of the day; infrastructural development is derailed, jobs and such
opportunities are given to the wrong persons, state resources are misused, the
national economy is always in huge deficit and a lot of other setbacks to
national development take place.
Regarding
corruption around the world, it has been stated that, “Corruption is a curse
that afflicts many countries. It has become a major cause of concern throughout
the world, but especially for developing and underdeveloped countries it has
been nothing less than blaspheme. Extensive poverty and economic crisis in
these nations have led to corruption. It has infringed upon every aspect of
society, government, business, military and so on. Even regulations have failed
to combat corruption, as in most cases, even the enforcers and lawmakers have
turned out to be corrupt”.
As
the draft anti-corruption bill is being validated, it is expected that once it
is enacted and made into law, it must be well utilised for the good of the
nation.
“A
man who has never gone to school may steal a freight car; but if he has a
university education, he may steal the whole railroad.”
Theodore
Roosevelt
