Starting a construction business – or any business – is a dream for many and a powerful engine that drives a nation’s economy. Yet those dreams often collide with complex and time-consuming government licensing procedures. What should ensure fairness and compliance instead becomes a major barrier that causes delays, frustration, and, more critically, opens the door to a deeply rooted problem: bribery. This silent force undermines trust and erodes national credibility.
This form of corruption typically involves offering or receiving benefits in exchange for the issuance of licences or permits for activities regulated by the state. The problem stems from lengthy, complicated processes that grant certain officials excessive discretion. Such gaps in the system provide opportunities for demanding or offering bribes in return for faster approvals. It may seem like a shortcut, but in reality, it is the first step into a damaging and self-perpetuating cycle.
What appears to be a temporary fix – paying a bribe to speed things up – eventually corrodes the entire system. As bribery becomes normalised, it weakens fair competition and discourages honest entrepreneurs. More importantly, society bears the cost: unsafe buildings due to substandard construction, and depleted marine resources from unregulated fishing. These are not isolated incidents – they are direct outcomes of corruption within the licensing process.
Common examples include construction permits in urban areas, where bribes are solicited to expedite approvals or bypass environmental checks. In coastal zones, bribes may be exchanged for fishing licences to evade monitoring requirements. Such acts not only compromise public safety and environmental sustainability but also damage the country’s reputation in the eyes of investors and international partners.
The Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (ONACC) is tackling these challenges head-on through its comprehensive initiative, ‘Together Against Bribery’ (TaB), which aims to address the problem systematically and sustainably. However, no effort can succeed without the participation of everyone.
Rejecting both the giving and taking of bribes is a powerful step towards breaking the cycle of corruption. When citizens, businesses, and officials unite in integrity, transparency becomes the norm rather than the exception.
Be the eyes and ears of your community. Report any suspicious acts or information to ONACC. Together, we can stop this silent threat and make a transparent, bribe-free society a reality.