A socio‐cultural approach to public sector corruption in Africa: key pointers for reflection |
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| Authors: | Emmanuel Yeboah‐Assiamah Kwame Asamoah Justice Nyigmah Bawole Issah Justice Musah‐Surugu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch Campus, South Africa;2. Department of Public Administration & Health Services Management, University of Ghana Business School, Legon‐Accra, Ghana |
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| Abstract: | The public sector of many African countries is notoriously corrupt; cultural inclinations and socialization processes largely have a tendency to lead public officials into actions that may amount to corrupt practices. Providing seven (7) key pointers for reflection, this study explores public sector corruption in African countries by examining the interplay between culturally acceptable norms and professional expectations of public officials. The public official, by these two unparalleled expectations, tends to walk on a tight rope which often results in ethical dilemma and conflict of interest. The study adopts Riggs' prismatic‐sala model and uses the case of Ghana and traditional proverbs to explain the cultural context within which Ghanaian public official ought to operate. How can one combine these cultural expectations with professionalism? To what extent does the ‘collectivity culture’, ‘culture of gift giving and acceptance’, ‘extended family system’, ‘ethnic loyalty’ and ‘unfettered respect of the aged’ downplay professional bureaucratic and ethical principles? Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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