Morocco’s efforts to combat corruption have made little headway over the past two decades, says a new report from Morocco’s National Authority for Integrity, Prevention of Corruption, and Anti-Corruption.
The report, presented by the authority’s president, Mohamed Bachir Rachidi, at a press conference today, showed that Morocco has only managed to improve its ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index by a single point in the last 20 years, reaching a score of 38.
“We have only moved up one point on the corruption perceptions index, which is contrary to public expectations,” said Rachidi.
The country’s performance on other anti-corruption indicators has also deteriorated.
The report found that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which aimed to improve Morocco’s ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index by 23 points, has fallen significantly short of its goal.
The report also revealed that 23% of businesses surveyed had experienced some form of corruption in the past 12 months, with bribery being the most common type.
Other forms of corruption reported included abuse of power, extortion, and the misuse of authority. 3% of businesses admitted to voluntarily offering bribes as a ‘thank you’ for services rendered.
The primary motivations for paying or requesting bribes were to secure business services (62%), expedite procedures or gain preferential treatment (57%), and resolve administrative complexities (24%).
When faced with requests for bribes, 51% of businesses complied, while 31% refused and continued with the process. However, 12% abandoned the process after refusing to pay.
The report noted that 70% of business executives who paid bribes stated that it was an effective means of achieving their goals or obtaining desired benefits.
According to the study, 68% of Moroccan businesses perceive corruption as widespread and common, while over 23% of businesses reported being subjected to corruption.
However, Rachdi noted that few business owners report these incidents due to a lack of faith in the system and fear of retaliation.
According to the report, the most common forms of corruption experienced by businesses include issues related to licenses, permits, public contracts, and undue influence.
Rachdi said that the economic impact of corruption on Morocco is significant, costing the country between 3.5% and 6% of its GDP annually, equivalent to approximately 50 billion dirhams.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.