Technology may be transforming the way Africa conducts business and delivers public services, but it cannot eliminate corruption unless it is supported by strong institutions, accountability systems and ethical leadership, young professionals have been told.
Speaking during an X space organized by The Bright Future Alliance and Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition (GACC) marking the 2026 African Anti-Corruption Day, Anti Corruption advocate Geraldo Zombo said digital systems can help reduce corruption by limiting opportunities for manipulation, but warned that technology itself remains vulnerable when controlled by unethical actors.
He noted that despite advancements in digital transformation, many organizations across Africa still rely heavily on paper-based systems, which create loopholes for fraud and concealment.
“Technology cannot eliminate corruption on its own, but can reduce opportunities for it. Technology can help us reduce secrecy and create records that are very difficult to hide,” he explained, adding that digital payment systems, for instance, can reduce reliance on cash transactions and create clearer financial trails.
However, Zombo cautioned that technology must be combined with other safeguards, including independent audits, data protection measures and effective punishment for corrupt practices.
“A corrupt person can still manipulate the digital system by changing dates and other details,” he warned.
He stressed that the success of technology-driven anti-corruption measures depends largely on the people managing these systems and the institutions responsible for enforcing accountability.
Adding to the discussion, Ugandan researcher and anti corruption advocate Max Amanu highlighted that young professionals occupy a unique position in the fight against corruption because of their presence across different sectors of society.
According to Amanu, young professionals often have access to information and conversations that may never reach the public, placing them in a position of both opportunity and responsibility.
“We are the energetic ones that are working. We work in government offices, private sector, civil society, name it. We see things investigators may never see. We hear conversations that probably will not reach the public if we don’t make them do so,” he stated.
He urged young professionals to first educate themselves on corruption, noting that the problem extends beyond bribery to include practices such as conflict of interest, procurement fraud, favoritism, embezzlement and extortion.
The theme chosen to commemorate the African Anti corruption Day 2026 is “Scaling up integrity and Anti Corruption actions among young professionals across Africa“.
