The reforms should be seen as neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for eliminating corruption. Difficulties arising out of broad based reforms should not be used as an excuse for delay in tackling corruption. At the national level concerted efforts are required to address the causes of corruption and take effective action against all its manifestations. In many African countries corruption is very pervasive. Petty corruption is rampant in the provision of social and economic services.
Bribery is very common in medical services, schools, courts, licensing institutions, the police etc.
It is the ordinary people who suffer most under petty corruption. High officials are normally not solicited to bribe in order to see a doctor for consultation or treatment, to register children in school or to obtain some permit. The ordinary people are, however, compelled on numerous occasions to bribe in order to obtain basic services. The common man does not have full protection from public institutions because in those institutions there are corrupt officials. In many cases when an individual reports to law enforcement officials about a corrupt official the alleged corrupt official will be informed by his fellow officials to whom the report is made either for purposes of soliciting bribe or because the law enforcement officials and the culprit are part of the same corrupt system.