Benin report - Institut Africain de la Gouvernance

CHAPTER FOUR: ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT__________________________________________________________________________471. The report also emphasises the existence of legal provisions establishing acode of conduct, which includes the public declaration of assets. The presidentand ministers declare their assets on assumption of and leaving office.However, these declarations are not known to the citizens so the latter are notable to exercise social control.472. The report also mentions that, with the inauguration of the new government,Benin now has an ombudsperson to evaluate cases of corruption in the publicsector. However, the constitutionality of the appointment of an ombudspersonhas been challenged by the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, noparliamentary committee was set up to evaluate cases of corruption. TheCSAR also notes that, whenever measures are taken to fight corruption, everyeffort is made to evade them. It could, therefore, be said that the past fiveyears have been rather disappointing on this score, and a new start will have tobe made.473. With regard to the follow-up, and eventually prosecution, of cases ofcorruption over the past five years, the government has established two typesof mechanisms. The first was the creation of the CMVP. This comprises civilservants and is attached directly to the presidency of the republic. However,such a unit is wrongly or rightly seen by the majority of citizens as a structurethat could not moralise anything. According to its detractors, its main task wasto be an attractive „window-dressing‟ for the authorities and to divert publicattention.474. The report notes that, in reality, these criticisms against the CMVP areexaggerated. While it is true that the structure did not have adequate resourcesto achieve its ambitions, it did take enormous risks to moralise public life.More than once it showed the desire to make a significant contribution to theimprovement of morals. The CMVP was dissolved and replaced by theGeneral State Inspectorate (IGE) and the anti-corruption watchdog OLC.475. The second measure was the creation of FONAC. It was established by thegovernment under pressure from civil society organisations, which expressedthe urgent need for such an organisation. Independent of the authorities,FONAC became famous for its commitment in a severe and merciless fightagainst corruption. This is shown by the numerous operations that hit theheadlines and created difficulties even for ministers in office. However, heretoo it should be recognised that FONAC and OLC did not have a positiveimpact on the anti-corruption drive.476. Lastly, the report notes that the fight against corruption in the Beninese publicservice encounters some problems. These are:difficulties relating to social pressure;difficulties relating to the involvement of the state in wheeler-dealing;difficulties relating to politicisation of the administration;169