PH slips in global corruption index

The index which ranks countries according to the perceived level of public sector corruption is based on a scoring system that ranges between 0 (public sector perceived as highly corrupt) to 100 (public sector perceived as very clean).

Brazil was the bigger decliner in the index, falling 5 points and dropping 7 positions to a rank of 76.

The main positive points raised by experts are large-scale legislative initiatives taken in the field of combating corruption and ensuring the transparency and accountability of public authorities.

Thailand scored 38 points in 2014 as well, showing no change.

In contrast, European nation Denmark is seen as the least corrupt country out of the 168 indexed, retaining the top spot for a second year in a row with a score of 91. Nepal failed to improve both country wise ranking and score. Larry is our main news editor.

“Corruption can be beaten if we work together”, said TI chairman Jose Ugaz in a statement.

In publishing its 2015 report on Wednesday, the NGO Transparency International makes clear that more than six billion individuals live in a country where corruption is a serious problem.

Corruption Watch’s Executive Director David Lewis says the fact that South Africa has improved from being 67th in 2014 to 61st shows that perceptions are stabilising.

Denmark topped the index for the second consecutive year as the country is perceived as the least corrupt.

The big decliners in the past four years include Libya, Australia, Brazil, Spain and Turkey. The CPI 2015 showed that people working together can succeed in the battle against corruption. “Not one single country, anywhere in the world, is corruption-free, ” the report said. The U.K stepped up three spots to place 10th, with a score of 81 that tied it with Germany and Luxembourg.

The United States rose one notch to 16th with a score of 76 points, its best performance ever.

According to the organization, even where there’s not open conflict, the levels of inequality and poverty in these countries are devastating.