corruption

What does citizen participation mean in anti-corruption efforts?

Active engagement of individuals/groups in governance.

What is the role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in anti-corruption?

Advocacy, awareness, research, monitoring, and exposing corruption.

What is social accountability?

Public monitoring of power holders.

How does citizen participation strengthen governance?

It strengthens transparency and accountability.

What are some barriers to citizen participation?

Fear, apathy, lack of trust, and weak legal protections.

What role does the media play in anti-corruption?

Investigative journalism uncovers corruption and ensures transparency.

What is the significance of Freedom of Information (FOI) in transparency?

It serves as a foundation for transparency and public access to information.

What are some digital tools used for citizen reporting?

Crowd-sourced reporting, mobile apps, and blockchain audits.

What is the Collective Action Problem in the context of corruption?

When everyone tolerates corruption, leading to collective harm.

What is social empowerment in anti-corruption efforts?

Building citizens' ability to act and demand integrity.

What responsibilities do governments have regarding citizen participation?

Create enabling environments for CSOs, protect whistleblowers, and institutionalize citizen consultation.

What are some risks associated with media involvement in anti-corruption?

Ownership bias, misinformation, and threats to journalists.

What is the role of technology in promoting citizen participation?

It enables engagement and data-driven oversight but comes with risks like digital divide and privacy concerns.

What is the purpose of the UNCAC Article 13?

States must promote public participation in anti-corruption efforts.

How can citizens report corruption?

Through official channels or media reporting.

What are some examples of citizen-driven anti-corruption initiatives?

I Paid a Bribe in India and FixMyStreet in the UK.

What challenges do CSOs face in anti-corruption efforts?

Donor dependence, hostility, and internal corruption risks.

What is the impact of civic education on citizen participation?

It promotes ethical norms and enhances civic engagement.

What is the importance of collective action in combating corruption?

It helps overcome individual hesitance and promotes unified efforts.

What are the key takeaways regarding citizen participation in anti-corruption?

Citizen participation complements enforcement and informed citizens sustain accountability.

What role does civic trust play in anti-corruption?

It builds social capital and encourages participation.

Social Accountability Mechanisms

Non-electoral, yet institutionalized, mechanisms of vertical accountability in which citizens and associations hold the state accountable.

Social Accountability

Broad range of actions and mechanisms beyond voting that citizens, civil society organizations, and the media use to hold public officials accountable.

Civic Engagement

An approach toward building accountability that relies on civic engagement, where ordinary citizens and civil society organizations participate directly or indirectly in exacting accountability.

Strategic Social Accountability

Combines citizen voice initiatives with institutional reforms to strengthen the responsiveness and answerability of public institutions.

Social Accountability Practice

A practice and process by which citizens, civil society, and independent media demand transparency and responsiveness from powerholders.

Bottom-Up Approach

Demand accountability that is demand-driven, requiring the availability of structures and laws that define people's rights.

Diverse Approaches to Social Accountability

Range of methods to exercise voice, including exposure of government failures, participatory performance monitoring, expenditure tracking, and participatory budgeting.

Collective Actions in Social Accountability

Actions of citizens, the media, and civil society organizations to hold government and corporate actors accountable for their actions.

Sustainable Democracy

Depends on citizens' capacity to demand answerability through civic engagement, advocacy, and independent media.

Public Sphere

A social space where citizens engage in rational-critical debate about public issues.

Communication in the Public Sphere

Should be free, open, and inclusive—independent of state and market influence.

Goal of the Public Sphere

To shape public opinion and influence governance through reasoned dialogue.

Modern Relevance of the Public Sphere

Social media as a new 'digital public sphere' enabling civic participation and accountability.

Vertical Accountability

Mechanisms through which citizens and civil society actors hold public officials and institutions accountable, typically from the bottom up.

Horizontal Accountability

Occurs between state institutions, such as the judiciary holding the executive accountable.

Citizens' Ability to Hold Rulers Accountable

Refers to the ability to hold rulers accountable, principally through elections and other non-electoral means such as protests and independent media.

Key Idea of the Public Sphere

The public sphere is a domain of our social life where public opinion can be formed.

What is media capture?

Control of media by elites undermining independence.

Define social accountability.

Citizen and Civil Society Organization (CSO) oversight of powerholders.

What are resistance strategies in the context of media capture?

Legal, civic, and advocacy actions for press freedom.

What theoretical model discusses how power filters news?

Herman & Chomsky's Propaganda Model.

What are some forms of media capture identified in Ghana?

Funding dependence, ownership by politicians, restrictive regulations, intimidation, information restriction, and discrediting.

What does the RTI Law (2019) signify in Ghana?

It is a result of Civil Society Organization (CSO) advocacy for transparency.

What was the impact of repealing the Criminal Libel Law in 2001?

It enhanced media freedom in Ghana.

What role do social accountability actors play in media independence?

They defend, facilitate, and legitimize journalism.

What is the significance of the 'Contracts for Sale' documentary?

It exposed corruption in Ghana.

How can donor partnerships affect journalism?

They can counter media capture but may also risk dependency.

What are the outcomes of strengthened media independence in Ghana?

Legal reforms, transparency, growth of investigative journalism, and enforcement of the RTI law.

What is the role of MFWA's Fourth Estate?

It is a non-profit investigative outlet in Ghana.

What does CDD-Ghana's Corruption Watch do?

It tracks public losses due to corruption.

What is a key insight regarding civic resistance?

It sustains freedom beyond laws.

What is the relationship between CSO-media collaboration and accountability?

It builds accountability ecosystems.

What are some discussion questions raised in the document?

How is capture different from censorship? Can donor-funded media be independent? What lessons can others learn from Ghana? How to balance activism and professionalism?

What does the term 'cognitive capture' refer to?

It refers to how ownership and funding can influence media content and perspectives.

What is the role of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)?

To recognize and promote ethical journalism through awards.

What are the implications of media capture for democracy?

It undermines democratic accountability and press freedom.

What is the definition of corruption?

Misuse of entrusted power for private gain.

What role does traditional media often play in relation to corruption?

It is often captured by political/economic elites.

What is the public sphere according to Habermas?

A free space for rational debate.

What is citizen journalism?

Citizen-led oversight of issues, including corruption.

What does social accountability theory emphasize?

Civic actions to hold the state accountable.

What are the two types of accountability identified by Fox (2015)?

Tactical (local actions) and Strategic (systemic reform).

Why is Ghana considered a model democracy in Africa?

It has a significant number of social media users and active digital activism.

What percentage of Ghana's population are social media users?

21.5% (7.4 million users).

What is the Transparency International score for Ghana in 2022?

43.6/100.

What are some examples of digital activism in Ghana?

FixTheCountry and #OccupyJulorbiHouse.

What methodology was used in the study?

25 qualitative interviews and data from social media platforms.

What is one finding related to exposing corruption through social media?

Citizens share videos of bribery, abuse, and misconduct.

How do hashtags contribute to civic movements?

They drive awareness, solidarity, and collective outrage.

What is the role of social media in naming and shaming?

It serves as a moral space for public exposure and accountability.

What are some risks associated with social media in combating corruption?

Fake news, propaganda, and weak verification.

What is a critical analysis of social media's role in accountability?

It is a double-edged sword that enhances transparency but can spread misinformation.

What broader African examples illustrate social media's impact on activism?

The Arab Spring in Tunisia/Egypt and the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria.

What conclusion does Asomah (2024) draw about social media and institutional reform?

Social media can expose corruption, but genuine reforms are necessary to end it.

What is one discussion question regarding social media's impact on accountability?

How does social media enhance or hinder accountability?

Can naming and shaming replace formal sanctions?

This is a question for discussion regarding the effectiveness of social media.

How can misinformation be managed ethically in the context of social media?

This is a question for discussion on ethical management of information.

What is the primary goal of transparency in anti-corruption efforts?

To ensure open and verifiable decision-making, promoting citizen oversight and accountability.

What does UNCAC Article 10 emphasize?

Enhancing transparency in public administration.

What are some tools used to promote transparency?

Freedom of Information (FOI) laws and open-data platforms.

What is the purpose of auditing in corruption detection?

To systematically examine finances and processes.

How did Brazil's random audits impact corruption?

They reduced corruption by 8%.

What is the difference between internal and external audits?

Internal audits evaluate internal controls, while external audits are conducted by independent auditors.

What are some common reporting mechanisms for corruption?

Public hotlines, websites, apps, and investigative journalism.

What is the role of whistle-blowing systems?

To allow insiders to disclose illegal or unethical practices while protecting them from retaliation.

What triggered investigations into corruption?

Credible reports or audits.

What are the key steps in the investigation process of corruption?

Intake and triage of complaints, preliminary assessment, evidence collection, analysis, reporting, and follow-up actions.

What challenges do detection and investigation of corruption face?

Limited resources, political interference, complex transactions, and weak whistle-blower protection laws.

How can technology support corruption detection?

Through tools like blockchain for transaction tracking and mobile apps for reporting bribery.

What is the importance of handling reports in anti-corruption efforts?

It is critical to the credibility of anti-corruption efforts, ensuring proper intake, triage, and follow-up.

What is the impact of self-reporting in corruption detection?

It encourages compliance through leniency.

What are the principles that guide investigations into corruption?

Fairness, confidentiality, and thoroughness.

What is the significance of evidence collection in corruption investigations?

It involves gathering documents, conducting interviews, and performing forensics to build a case.

How does technology enhance corruption detection?

By providing innovative solutions like digital forensics and open data for citizen auditing.

What is a key takeaway regarding the relationship between technology and ethics in corruption detection?

Technology enhances but cannot replace the need for ethics and governance.

What are the advantages of external audits over internal audits?

They provide independent verification and credibility.

What is a common challenge faced by whistle-blowers?

Fear of retaliation such as dismissal or harassment.

What is the role of investigative journalism in corruption detection?

To expose hidden wrongdoing and inform the public.

What is the purpose of the Birkenfeld case in relation to whistle-blowing?

It exemplifies a reward-based system for whistle-blowers in the US.