Ghana’s long-standing struggle against corruption has shown little improvement in recent years, according to the latest report by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC). The coalition warns that the nation’s anti-graft campaign remains largely stalled, raising concerns about public trust, institutional weakness, and the government’s ability to turn rhetoric into tangible results.
The GACC’s 2024 Annual Anti-Corruption Report, covering the period from January to December 2024, paints a picture of persistent stagnation in the country’s efforts to combat corruption. Public perception of corruption remains high, major reforms remain unpassed, and citizens’ confidence in key governance institutions continues to decline.
According to the report, Ghana scored 42 out of 100 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), a figure that has remained unchanged for the past five years.
A comparative survey also revealed that the number of citizens who believe the government’s anti-corruption efforts are going “fairly well” or “very well” has dropped to record lows.
The report further indicates that the proportion of Ghanaians who fear retaliation for reporting corruption has nearly doubled, rising from 26 per cent in 2017 to 46 per cent in 2024. The coalition expressed concern over the continued delay in passing crucial legislative reforms, particularly the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, which it described as vital to promoting integrity and accountability in public service. It also estimated that Ghana loses approximately US$3 billion annually to corruption — an amount greater than the country’s total foreign direct investment inflows.
Weak Enforcement
Despite the existence of several anti-corruption agencies and legal frameworks, the report pointed to weak enforcement, overlapping institutional mandates, and under-resourced internal audit structures as major barriers to progress.
These challenges, it said, have created inefficiencies and weakened the country’s capacity to detect, prevent and sanction corruption effectively.
The GACC also highlighted the negative impact of partisan politics on the fight against corruption. It observed that the tendency of the two dominant political parties to accuse each other of corruption without impartial accountability has eroded public trust and hampered sustained reform. This culture of political equalisation, the coalition warned, has allowed systemic weaknesses to persist and limited the effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions.
Recommendations
To address the problem, the GACC urged the government to take urgent and coordinated action aimed at strengthening accountability and restoring public confidence. It called for the establishment of a centralised corruption-case and asset-recovery database under the Attorney-General’s Office to improve transparency and tracking of cases.
The coalition further recommended that the Public Accounts Committee be empowered to enforce audit recommendations and sanction culpable public officers. It also called on Parliament to expedite the passage of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill and enhance whistle-blower protections to encourage citizens to report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation.
Additionally, the GACC proposed the creation of specialised anti-corruption courts and a comprehensive review of political party and campaign financing laws to curb undue influence in governance. It further suggested that internal auditors be made fully independent from the institutions they audit in order to strengthen oversight and eliminate conflicts. While acknowledging that Ghana has undertaken several high-profile prosecutions and institutional reforms, including the establishment of the
Office of the Special Prosecutor, the GACC warned that such efforts remain fragmented and have yet to bring about the systemic change required to curb corruption effectively. The coalition cautioned that without decisive measures to break the cycle of impunity, public trust in governance could deteriorate further.
“Every cedi lost to corruption means fewer resources for schools, hospitals, infrastructure and jobs,” the report stressed, underscoring the direct impact of corruption on national development.
