Analysing the Trend and Variability in Corruption Perception: A Study of Sub-Sahara African Countries from 2012-2020

This study examines trends and variability in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) across 48 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nation using cross-sectional data from 2012 to 2020 from Transparency International. Based on expert polls, the CPI rates public sector corruption from 0 (high corruption) to 100 (low corruption). Analysis was conducted using STATA 15 and included descriptive statistics, data visualization, correlation matrices, and one-way ANOVA. The findings show a steady yearly growth in the CPI, with major anti-corruption advancements in Botswana, Rwanda, Namibia, and Senegal. While the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and South Sudan continued to struggle with corruption, Niger, Gabon, Mali, and Togo demonstrated only little progress. The average CPI decreased somewhat from 32.9 in 2012 to 32.2 in 2020, indicating a minor regional impact, notwithstanding individual country efforts. ANOVA results showed no significant variations in corruption levels over time (F = 0.031, P = 0.987), but strong correlations (P < 0.01) suggest persistent CPI trends. These results highlight the necessity of focused policy initiatives and long-term governance reforms to solve persistent corruption problems in SSA. The study concludes that, in spite of evidence of relative effectiveness in governance and anti-corruption initiatives countries like Botswana, Rwanda, Namibia, and Senegal stand out as the top nations with the lowest perceived levels of corruption.