Ghana’s slip on the 2024 Corruption Perception Index, from 70th to 80th position, has reignited urgent calls for tougher anti-corruption measures.

Stakeholders are demanding stronger systems and stricter regulations on campaign financing to stem the rising tide of corruption.

At the National Commission for Civic Education’s (NCCE) national dialogue on Empowering Citizens and Promoting Accountability, supported by GIZ, the European Union, and other partners, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mary Addah, stressed the need for transparency in political funding.

“Without full disclosure of who funds our politics, citizens can never truly know whose interests are being served in government,” she said.

She called for a shorter active campaign period, arguing that it would cut costs and reduce the incentive for corruption once parties assume power.

“When campaigns drag on for too long, parties overspend and then spend the next four years trying to recover those costs. A shorter campaign window can help curb that,” she added.

Deputy Chairman in charge of General Services at the NCCE, Victor Brobbey, attributed the rising levels of corruption to a breakdown in societal moral values.

“We can’t fight corruption only with laws, it starts with values. Until we rebuild integrity at home, in schools, and in our public institutions, corruption will remain part of our culture,” he noted.

Former Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, Professor Justice Bawole, also underscored the need to reward citizens who uphold integrity, emphasizing that positive incentives are crucial to sustaining the fight against corruption.

“We often punish wrongdoing but rarely celebrate integrity. If we start rewarding honest public servants, we’ll inspire a new culture where doing the right thing actually pays off,” he suggested.

The NCCE maintains that with sustained public education and civic engagement, corruption can be reduced to its barest minimum.