The document discusses corruption in Africa and actions that could be taken by the United Nations Secretary General. It notes that corruption costs Africa over $148 billion per year, stifling economic growth and deterring investment. While the UN already does work to fight corruption, more aggressive action is needed. The author would demand that the Secretary General establish an anti-corruption task force to investigate and prosecute severe corruption cases across Africa and globally, as local efforts are often ineffective due to corrupt politicians undermining nations. Some may argue this undermines sovereignty, but the author believes UN intervention is necessary given how widespread and damaging corruption has become.

1. If you had the opportunity, what
actions would you demand of the
United Nations Secretary General
and why?
Pravesh Laloo Daya,
IE Business School Dual Degree Application

2. IfIhadtheopportunity,Iwoulddemandthatthe
UnitedNationsSecretaryGeneral establishan
anti-corruptiontaskforce,whichwould
investigateandprosecutesevereinstancesof
corruptioninAfricaandacrosstheglobe.
The actions I would demand

3. Why the UN should take action
Corruption stifles economic growth, it protracts shameful inequalities
and it depraves nations of people from a humane existence.
(1)

4. Is the problem of corruption
really that serious?
South African society is infected by a “culture of corruption and
impunity” that has led to R30 billion (US$3.29 billion) a year being lost
in procurement.
- Mamphela Rampele, former managing director of the World Bank (2)
US$1.8 trillion is the volume of illicit financial flows from Africa
between 1970 and 2008.
- Global Financial Integrity, 2010 (4)
Corruption is costing Africa more than US$148 billion dollars a year,
increasing the cost of goods by as much as 20%, deterring investment
and holding back development. Most of the cost falls on the poor.
- 2002 African Union Report (3)

5. StockMarketCapitalisationbycountryasat2012(5)
America
Largest in the world
South Africa
Largest in Africa
US$ 18,668 BN US$ 612 BN
Rest of Africa
Combined
US$ 240 BN
Crippling corruption prevents
Africa from realising our potential
(6)

6. The UN already does a lot of
work to fight corruption?
The UN already does a great deal of exemplary work in the fight
against corruption. They have established working groups, facilitate
public –private partnerships and run global campaigns.
In 2003, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations
Convention Against Corruption UNCAC. This important treaty provides
guidance on the prevention of corruption, requires adopting parties to
establish laws criminalizing corruption, and formalises a framework for
international cooperation and asset recovery.
However, in spite of all of these good efforts, corruption continues to
surge – especially in Africa. The UN must adopt a more aggressive
stance against corruption if there is to be any hope of curtailing it’s
widening reach.

7. Is this the UN’s fight?
One could argue that investigating and prosecuting instances of
corruption is within the jurisdiction of the respective national
governments and that the UN would be undermining the sovereignty
of these nations by undertaking such actions.
However, corruption is so rampant across Africa that it manages to
flourish even in jurisdictions where sound legal frameworks and
“independent” anticorruption bodies have been established.
To this effect, corrupt politicians undermine nations of people and
render most localised efforts to fight corruption ineffective. For this
reason I believe that UN intervention- international tribunals and
bringing cases to the International Court of Justice, is sorely necessary.

8. (7)
Note: The gentlemen in black suits represent “independent” anticorruption bodies,
established in terms of national laws. The rest should be self-explanatory.

9. References
# Description/ Source
1) “corruption is deadly” Banner
http://www.courrierinternational.com/chronique/2012/12/21/l-argent-de-l-ue-nourrit-la-corruption
2) 1st corruption citation
http://www.supplymanagement.com/news/2013/culture-of-corruption-costs-south-africa-r30-billion
3) 2nd corruption citation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2265387.stm
4) 3rd corruption citation
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/democraticgovernance/focus_areas/focus_
anti-corruption.html
5) Market capitalisation data
http://www.quandl.com/c/economics/stock-market-capitalization-by-country
6) Apple Inc. logo
http://www.apple.com/
7) Corruption cartoon
http://www.africancrisis.org/Article.php?ID=11898&