By Ashiadey Dotse
Ghana’s fight against corruption has suffered a setback as the country’s score on the 2024 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) dropped from 43 to 42. This was revealed in a report released on February 11 by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International.
The report ranked Ghana 80th out of 180 countries assessed in the global index. According to the GII, Ghana’s CPI score has been gradually declining over the past decade, dropping by five points since 2015. This suggests that despite efforts to tackle corruption, challenges remain.
The GII noted that policies and legal reforms need to be strengthened to improve the fight against corruption. It recommended that Parliament empower the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to enforce financial oversight and establish a Budget and Fiscal Analysis Department (BFAD) to ensure better management of public funds.
Additionally, the judiciary has been urged to create a special anti-corruption court, similar to Tanzania’s, to speed up corruption-related cases. The executive branch has also been advised to prioritize the passage of the Conduct of Public Officers’ Bill, which will strengthen laws on asset declaration, conflict of interest, and penalties for violations.
