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By Tedla Desta - Capital
10 July, 2007
In a study conducted on the Addis Ababa City’s Land Administration by the Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption, notable personalities were found immersed in land related corruption, Ali Souleman, Commissioner of Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said.
The Commissioner disclosed that in its investigation aimed at taking measures against illegitimate land holding activity, the ones found highly engrossed in the crime were the prosperous rather than the poor.
“Especially, personalities who are given much respect by the society are engaged in the illegal selling and buying of land, which is the shameful side of the activity.”
He also added that these widely known personalities should have known that participating in such an illegal activity could hurt the low income earners of the society, and will ruin their personal reputation and respect. In addition to this, they should understand that this act would make them liable under law.
Though the Commissioner refrained from naming who the persons involved in corruption are , a source told Capital that the individuals are very famous musicians, athletes, investors and government appointees.
The source also added that the individuals were able to get land in Bole and Yeka Sub cities by lease and for real estate development.
Meanwhile, a study paper presented on five sub cities: Yeka, Bole, Akaki Kaliti, Nefas Silk Lafto and Kolfe and Keranio found out that a huge and complicated web of corruption exists.
The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was established in May 2001 and until the year 2006 investigated a number of cases and pressed charges against 500 individuals about 100 of whom received 1-19 years imprisonment.
Corruption is a general concept describing any organized, interdependent system in which part of the system is either not performing duties it was originally intended to, or performing them in an improper way, to the detriment of the system’s original purpose.
A report by the African Union, estimates that corruption costs African economies in excess of 148bln dollars a year. This figure, which includes both direct and indirect costs of corruption, i.e. resources diverted by corrupt acts and resources withheld or deterred due to the existence of corruption, is thought to represent 25% of Africa’s GDP and to increase the cost of goods by as much as 20%.