This statement was shared on Transparency International’s website this
evening. Responding to the recent comments by UK Prime Minister David
Cameron that Nigeria and Afghanistan were possibly the two most corrupt
countries in the world, Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director of
Transparency International said:
“There is no doubt that historically, Nigeria and Afghanistan have had
very high levels of corruption, and that continues to this day. But the
leaders of those countries have sent strong signals that they want
things to change, and the London Anti-Corruption Summit creates an
opportunity for all the countries present to sign up to a new era. This
affects the UK as much as other countries: we should not forget that by
providing a safe haven for corrupt assets, the UK and its Overseas
Territories and Crown Dependencies are a big part of the world’s
corruption problem.”