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Rwanda Co-Hosts Anti-Corruption Excellence Award Summit

Eugene Uwimana

   KIGALI - Rwanda this week hosted the annual Anti-Corruption Excellence
   Award ceremony to highlight and encourage successes against graft,
   including at home. Transparency International ranks Rwanda as the
   fourth-least corrupt country in Africa, behind the Seychelles,
   Botswana, and Cape Verde.

   Rwanda and Qatar co-hosted this year's Anti-Corruption Excellence Award
   ceremony-- known as the ACE awards-- to recognize and support efforts
   to reject graft. The award is given by the Qatar-backed Rule of Law and
   Anti-Corruption Center.

   The African Union Commission estimates that illicit financial flows in
   Africa average at least $50 billion per year, although other estimates
   are higher.

   However, Transparency International ranks Rwanda the fourth-least
   corrupt country in Africa, and the second-least corrupt on the
   mainland, after Botswana.

   "Compared to other African countries, I can say that Rwanda at least
   tries do its best, even if we still have a long way before us," said
   Marie Immaculee Ingabire, the chairperson of Transparency International
   Rwanda.

   Putting government services online is one measure Rwanda has taken to
   reduce corruption. In homes, you can see people apply for services
   online, which reduces the possibility they will be asked for a bribe by
   a service provider.

   While higher-level corruption is no longer rampant, Rwandans say you
   can still run into local corruption.

   "In many cases, you find that for a local leader to help you at the
   local sector level, he sometimes tells you 'Buy me a beer," said Issa
   Nshimiyimana, a 26-year Rwandan motorist. "It is done like this,
   without respecting the law."

   Nigeria is routinely ranked as one of the more corrupt nations in
   Africa.

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