About This Publication
Since Independence, Gambia has been facing corruption as a major problem. In some cases, it has
attained levels of gross and egregious theft, for which no possible moral or historical justification can
be advanced. The existence of widespread corruption, especially in societies beset by mass poverty
and very high levels of unemployment, has a deeply corrosive effect on trust in government and
contributes to crime and political disorder.
In the political realm, corruption undermines democracy and good governance by flouting or even
subverting formal processes. Corruption in legislative bodies reduces accountability and distorts
representation in policymaking; corruption in the judiciary compromises the rule of law; and
corruption in public administration results to ineffective public service delivery and an unequal
distribution of services.