Ghana’s Corruption Perception Index Declines in 2024, Scores 42

Ghana’s position on the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has slightly dropped, with the country now scoring 42, down from 43 in the 2023 rankings.

This was revealed in a press release on February 11 by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International.

According to the 2024 CPI report, Ghana ranked 80th out of 180 countries and territories, signaling a setback in the country’s efforts to combat corruption.

The report highlights that Ghana has seen a gradual decline in its CPI score since 2015, with the score dropping five points over the past decade. Despite various policy interventions and institutional reforms, the country continues to struggle with significant challenges in effectively addressing corruption.

The GII emphasized that the continued decline indicates that the current policy, legal, and administrative reforms need further review and strengthening.

In response to this trend, the GII has called for a series of reforms to improve Ghana’s fight against corruption.

Among the recommendations is a push for Parliament to enhance its financial oversight, particularly by empowering the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with enforcement authority and establishing the Budget and Fiscal Analysis Department (BFAD) to promote fiscal discipline and prevent mismanagement of public funds.

The GII also urges the judiciary to set up a specialized anti-corruption court to handle corruption-related cases efficiently, as seen in countries like Tanzania.

Additionally, it recommends that the executive prioritize the passage of the Conduct of Public Officers’ Bill, which aims to strengthen asset declaration, address conflicts of interest, and enforce sanctions for non-compliance.