Money needed to address poverty, inequality and unemployment fills the pockets of those involved in corrupt activities. And, to add insult to injury, they flaunt their ill-gotten gains and spit in the face of the poor.

Listen to this article 8 min Listen to this article 8 min Celebrated annually on 11 July, African Anti-Corruption Day is an opportunity for us to reflect on how corruption hampers efforts to lift millions of Africans out of poverty, provide food, education, jobs and basic services to many across the continent. On this day, we also celebrate those anti-corruption fighters who often risk life and limb to free society of this scourge.

One group that deserves a special mention is whistle-blowers. It is, therefore, fitting that this year's theme "Effective Whistle-blowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption" recognises the role of whistle-blowers.

In this article, we focus on the importance of whistle-blowing, the lack of proper protection of whistle-blowers, and coupled with this, the need for a "new Chapter 9 institution with preventative, investigative, prosecutorial and educative powers to properly combat corruption wherever and whenever it occurs".

Accountable and ethical society

Contemporary societies, as we all know very well, are often confronted by public-sector corruption and bad governance that necessitate effective whistle-blowing mechanisms. It is against this background that the whistle-blowing phenomenon is gaining an increased momentum in anti-corruption circles, not...