Iceland has recorded its worst-ever corruption ranking according to Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), due to among other reasons its citizens’ involvement in the Fishrot corruption scheme in Namibia.
The Nordic nation dropped two points in the CPI for 2023 from the previous year, garnering 72 out of 100 possible points.
“Iceland has lost six points in the last five years and 10 points in the past decade. Iceland stands significantly apart from other Nordic countries in the index. Denmark scored the highest (90 points), as it did the previous year,” the Transparency International statement reads.
Iceland is among the 23 countries receiving historically poor ratings this year. Other countries include the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Iran, Russia, Tajikistan, and Venezuela.
Of significance in Iceland’s fall is the involvement of its citizens in what is now known as the Fishrot scandal, wherein Namibia’s fisheries were allegedly stolen at industrial proportions.
“Transparency International Iceland notes that in 2023, nearly 20 individuals were suspected of attempting bribery in Iceland. This, along with repeated issues at risk of weakening public trust in good governance, such as revelations about the re-privatisation of Islandsbanki and matters involving Samherji in Namibia,” reads another section.
It continues: “A recent survey by the Social Science Research Institute of the University of Iceland in relation to a working group on fishery reform indicates that the Icelandic public perceives the fisheries industry and its management system as corrupt. Only one in six respondents believe in the honesty of the Icelandic fisheries and its management system.”
Due to the ongoing Fishrot case, Transparency International Iceland specifically highlights Namibia’s position in the index.
Namibia scored 49 points, unchanged from the previous year.
“Namibia has lost three points in the last five years but gained one in the past decade. Transparency International Iceland points out that Namibia has lost three points since the revelations of Icelandic fishing company Samherji’s actions in Namibia. Iceland’s score has dropped by six points during the same period.
Corruption not endemic
Reacting to Namibia’s ranking, Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari said the score is evidence that corruption in the country is not endemic, as claimed by certain quarters.
“The score once again attests to the fact that corruption in Namibia has never been endemic as some claim. On the contrary, it once again confirms the commitment of President [Hage] Geingob to transparency and accountability in governance and the collective desire of the Namibian government to continuously improve on the index,” said Hengari.
Further buttressing this point, he said: “Last year, we enacted the Access to Information Act, and we are operationalising the Whistleblowers Act to strengthen our commitment to effective governance for better service delivery to citizens.”
On his part, Graham Hopwood, the Institute for Public Policy Research executive director, said Namibia is lagging in some respects in the anti-graft war.
“While we are not slumping on the CPI, we are also not making progress. Namibia needs to take a series of concerted actions to demonstrate its seriousness in fighting corruption and promoting integrity,” Hopwood said.
Chief among them is the full implementation of the Access to Information Act, and Whistleblower Protection Act and joining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) – the global standard for good governance of oil, gas, and mineral resources.
Namibia must also, “Advance beneficial ownership transparency through central registers that are directly accessible to a range of stakeholders within and outside government to better prevent, detect, and combat corruption. The Electoral Commission of Namibia to take proactive steps to ensure transparency in the funding of political parties as per the stipulations in Electoral Act,” Hopwood recommended.
The government must also “systemise the declaration of assets for public officials and elected politicians which is open and transparent.”
Hopwood further said Iceland’s worst-ever score on the CPI, in large measure, is due to the failure to act on the Fishrot scandal.
“The IPPR is working with Transparency International Iceland to call to account all the actors involved in the Fishrot scandal.”
The CPI scores 180 countries and territories around the world based on perceptions of public sector corruption. The scores reflect the views of experts and surveys from businesspeople, not the public.
The CPI does not measure activities such as tax fraud, money laundering, financial secrecy, illicit financial flows, or other forms of private sector corruption.
– emumbuu@nepc.com.na