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396 Diagnosing Corruption in Ethiopia
a statement that no member of the government or the EPA has helped
it prepare the assessment.
Despite the above measures, however, the interviews, workshop, and
surveys showed a perception of some corruption in connection with the
issuing of licenses.
The interviews and workshop revealed the following perceptions:
• Most people interviewed believed that the risk of corruption in the
issuing of federal licenses was generally low. Some mining companies
commented that they had never come across any corruption in relation
to license issuing.
• However, comments from some people indicated areas of corruption
that need to be addressed:
° Some regional mining licenses have allegedly been given to companies
that did not have the necessary technical and financial capability.
° On some occasions, there had allegedly been long delays in the issuing
of licenses.
° It was felt that the federal, regional, and city licensing authorities lack
sufficient staff and systems to check whether licenses have expired.
° Some mining companies thought that there was no effective mechanism
for addressing their complaints if they believed they had been
unfairly treated.
• A lack of clarity was perceived about which health and safety and environmental
conditions should be imposed on a mining company at the
time of license issue.
The survey revealed the following perceptions:
• Out of the 19 people who completed the survey, seven (37 percent)
were aware of bribery in relation to the issue of prospecting, exploration,
or mining licenses.
• One survey respondent (5 percent) was aware of bribery in relation to
obtaining less-onerous license conditions at the time of license issue.
• Two survey respondents were aware of bribery from their own experiences,
two from their organizations’ experiences, and three from
rumors.
• Six survey respondents believed that such bribery took place at the
federal government level, seven at the regional level, and two at the city
level.