Ama takes corruption fight to universities
A new fraud and risk management consulting company, Ama Associates, has organised public lectures in universities as one way of trying to build a corrupt-free society.
According to Ama managing director Elwin Chiwembu Sichiola, they have deliberately targeted universities and other private colleges because once students graduate, they will hold high positions in companies.
“We have deliberately targeted universities because corruption is a perversion and has the potential to destroy one’s integrity in the discharge of public duties.
“Once they graduate, the students will hold high positions and we want to equip them with relevant skills in how to fight corruption,” said Sichiola in an interview on Monday at Bunda College of Agriculture, a constituent college of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar).
Sichiola said they started with Bunda College because of its proximity but plans are already at an advanced stage to visit constituent colleges of the University of Malawi as well as some private colleges.
According to Sichiola, corruption is found in all countries big and small, rich and poor, but it is in the developing world that its effects are most destructive.
Said Sichiola:“Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government’s ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice and discouraging foreign aid and foreign direct investment. Corruption is a key element in economic underperformance and major obstacle to poverty alleviation and development.”
On the economic front, Sichiola said corruption is responsible for increasing the costs of doing business in the private sector through bribes, the management cost of negotiating with officials and the risk of breached agreements on detection.
“Corruption can have serious consequences for investments leading to loss of investment opportunities, loss of favourable business environment ratings and other related economic costs,” said Sichiola.
Recently, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) told Business News that the coming in of organisations such as Ama Associates is a welcome deleopment to help create awareness of the dangers of corruption.
