BY MENGESHA AMARE
It is customary in Ethiopia to demolish structures and entities through which the system can run whenever one administration overtakes authority of the previous ones. Such a destructive approach has been compromising efforts geared towards coming up with change and progress as demanded since the successor begins from scratch.
We have to look into ourselves and rectify where the source is. This kind of disparaging nostalgia has to stop somewhere. For instance, when the Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)came to power, its prime actions were abolishing all what the dictatorial Derge regime used following the mere fact that these assets were used by the regime and assuming that all belonged to the system without taking their being national properties into account.
Undeniably, unless all activities are made institutionalized and channeled through a well streamlined procedure, either sector offices or their functions to serve the general public can be prettily manipulated by individual passerby let alone by those who are capable of doing things as per their preference.
If an independent, well-founded and constitutionally accredited institution is set up, activities or duties and responsibilities of a specific sector office could by no means be susceptible to individual judgment, and no one can take control of the undertakings.
Furthermore, entertaining institutional set up comprises, among others, a series of general philosophies addressing, for example, the conflict of interests; how to react when antagonized with problems such as offers of gratuitous advantages, especially gifts; susceptibility to the influence of others, misuse of official position, and public resources for private purposes.
Workable institutional change can be done through practical modifications in the daily working of the institutions, and even more so by changing the spirit in which they operate.
The underlying problem is lack of trust and confidence between political parties and government officials despite their ruling the same community and working for the one country as well as between the governor and the governed. Institutional priorities must be organized and arranged with these circumstances in mind.
It is generally accepted that institutional changes will form an important part of most national anti-wrongdoer stratagems. Fundamentals of institution building are found in most, if not all, of the widely appreciable parameters, plans of action and specific development projects which deal either with vice or more general topics such as democracy and good governance.
As many factors related to institutional cultures and structures influence the levels and types of maladministration and wrong doings that occur against the nation, institutional reforms can be used to try to counteract or reduce such influences.
Reforms may include the introduction of elements of accountability into organizations, the simplification of operations to reduce errors and opportunities to screen sleaze, as well as more fundamental reforms seeking to change the attitudes and beliefs of those who work in an institution. If workers of an institution develop sense of belongingness, they will always refuse individual serving and resource abuse.
In some circumstances, institutions might be completely omitted or restructured for a fresh start, or completely new institutions may appear. For instance, in the past, especially during the EPRDF, institution building has not yet focused on and the creation or expansion of institutions and the technical skills needed to operate them was highly belittled.
Instead the system crafted institutions in the way higher officials can well twist with a view to quenching their personal gain or group demand setting the national agendum and public interest aside.
A very good example for this can be the case of the national defense force. It has to, be organized as a multinational form, serve the nation and the general public—all Ethiopians impartially. However, as a result of lack of an independent institution which can never be bent by interested groups or individuals, the unbelievable made possible by those who were solely running to fatten personal gain and keeping power status quo.
In many cases, results have fallen short of expectations because the attitudes and behavior that supported or condoned wrong doing were carried forward into the new institutions.
It is now accepted that reforms must deal not only with institutions but also with the individuals who work in them. There is also a need for farsighted leadership that promotes and applies integrity, accountability, transparency, as well as a general acceptance of the mind-set, beliefs and customs that favor integrity over maladministration.
Thus, a broader concept of institution building has now been adopted by many government officials and prime concerned bodies especially after a two-year reform. Reform helps nations bear fruits.
For instance, hadn’t it been the case of a radical institutional reform in the country especially concerning the security institutions, the attack attempted on the Northern Command Base on 4th November 2020 would have incurred the nation with quite an immeasurable cost by far surpassed the wrong deed culprits did.
The government along with true patriots, who now work as facilitators, has exerted utmost effort to establish standards and ground rules for institutions in order to make them the well-founded country and public properties, not assets of the coming and the ongoing rulers or party affiliates. Yes, integrity also matters the most.
It has to become a critical consideration for administrators when filling civil service positions. Institution building and integrity are now promoted through any means possible, including the introduction of leadership codes, codes of conduct, declarations and monitoring of personal assets, and transparency in political administration.
The realization that institutions are interrelated and that reforms must often be coordinated has also led to an expansion of the concept of coming up with independent institutional set up.
Since much of the focus remains on establishing key elements of public administration, including security institutions, the court system, prosecutorial law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies and election board, it is now understood that a number of other institutions of government require attention as well. Many of the same fundamental principles must be applied to institutions of all sizes and at all levels of government structure.
Mechanisms for greater transparency in public administration are much more effective if accompanied by the development of an independent, vigilant and operative institution equipped with sufficient expertise and resources to assess the way how the public is served and ensure that it primarily targets at serving the public and the nation.
Similarly, rule-of-law and legal accountability reforms require not only reforms to legislation and the institutional practices of government but also the development of an independent, impartial and capable legal system.
The general public to whom institution-building reforms are directed must also be broadened to include all parts of society interested in creating and maintaining national integrity.
The process of creating independent institutions requires coordinated efforts with a view to well rectifying the challenges witnessed so far as once institutions are set up, no one can unlawfully act against the nation and the general public since the institutions do belong to the nation or all peoples of the country, not to individuals, government officials assuming power through whatever means.
Thus, independent institutions play a very imperative role in a contemporary society. Institutions’ independence in relation to state bodies and political parties essentially reflects and targets to meet, among others, the democratic culture, development concept, social direction and citizens’ expectations.
The more powerful the independency of institutions, the more solidified and unwavering the base on which the nation is founded. Hence, it is much more indispensable that independent institutions function on the basis of the principle of balance and control, with full responsibility and accountability to the public curiosity.
Societies that have emerged out of transition, reform and democratic ideology have enormously benefited out of the independent functioning of institutions. In so doing, independent institutions have immensely contributed to the country’s democratization, economic development and freedom of expression, social equality, unity and impartial treatment. The country is looking forward to having independent institutions!
The Ethiopian Herald January 21/2021
