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ACCA Strategic Professional · Strategic Business Leader · Public sector governance

The Ministry of Rural Roads in a mid-sized country awards road maintenance contracts worth millions each year. Citizens' groups complain that they cannot find out who won the contracts, at what price, or why. The Ministry says the awards followed internal procedures. Which governance principle is most directly breached?

Transparency is breached. Citizens cannot see who won contracts, at what price or on what basis, so openness is lacking. The case gives no evidence of bribery, incompetence or high costs, so integrity, competence and efficiency are not the principle directly violated.

  1. ATransparency, because information on decisions and contract awards is not openly disclosed to the publicCorrect
  2. BIntegrity, because ministers have taken bribes
  3. CCompetence, because the Ministry lacks technically skilled staff
  4. DEfficiency, because contracts are too expensive

Explanation

The problem described is that outcomes and the basis for decisions are hidden from citizens. That is a failure of transparency (openness). Nothing in the case shows bribery, lack of skill or cost overruns, so integrity, competence and efficiency are not the issue evidenced.

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