The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has acknowledged that despite notable progress made under Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), corruption remains entrenched.

Consequently, he has mandated a newly constituted working group to draft NACAP II, aiming to reverse the country’s declining performance in the fight against corruption.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the working group at the Presidency, Mr. Debrah emphasized that “accountability and the fight against corruption remain central to President Mahama’s legacy term.”

He charged the team with crafting a stronger, more effective second phase of NACAP to halt and reverse the worrying downward trend.

NACAP, Ghana’s 10-year strategic framework spanning 2015 to 2024, is designed to combat corruption comprehensively across all sectors.

Reflecting on the achievements of the initial phase, Mr. Debrah highlighted, “The implementation of NACAP led to the following: increased awareness of the havoc caused by corruption and available reporting mechanisms, including whistleblowing; reduction in sexual harassment supported by workplace safe reporting mechanisms.”

He added, “Next, implementation of the national anti-money laundering, combating and financing of terrorism, and provocation of weapons of mass destruction guidelines for banks and non-bank financial institutions in Ghana.”

During this period, key institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), and Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) ramped up operational activities, spanning administrative and criminal investigations, prosecutions, asset tracing, seizure, and recovery.

Yet, Mr. Debrah candidly acknowledged the challenges: “It is also worth noting that after Ghana’s best-ever Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score of 48% in 2024—the year NACAP was passed by Parliament—the implementation period from 2015 to 2024 has coincided with a downward trend in the country’s CPI score to the current all-time low of 42% in the final year of NACAP.”

He stated bluntly, “Clearly, one could argue that NACAP has not performed too well when it comes to the actual reduction of corruption in our country, and I’m sure the evidence is out there for all Ghanaians to see. We have to reverse this trend, and I charge this group to ensure that the strategy does precisely that.”

Reaffirming the government’s resolve, Mr. Debrah said, “This is consistent with the promise that His Excellency the President made to Ghanaians. Accountability and the fight against corruption constitute a key pillar in the legacy term of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.”

Supporting this vision, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, expressed unwavering confidence in the group’s ability to deliver a robust and fit-for-purpose NACAP II. She urged members to harness their diverse expertise for this vital task.

“We have heard from the Chief of Staff about the Corruption Perception Index and 42%. Our task is to reduce corruption in Ghana to ensure that the revenue and the resources of Ghana are used for the welfare of the people of Ghana,” she said.

She further stressed, “The composition of this group is varied and we’re hoping that you would harness your strengths for us to come up with a fit-for-purpose NACAP II.”

Highlighting the urgency of the mission, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo emphasized, “It is very important that we reverse this trend, and it is very important that we have a strong coordinating institution that will address the reduction of corruption and reverse the trend. It is very important that we have a strategy that would work. It is important that we make use of technology.”

“We have more institutions, we have advanced technology, and we also have global activism. And this should come together to create a NACAP II that will work, that will reduce corruption and that will ensure that we optimize our resources where they ought to be—the welfare of the people of Ghana,” she said confidently.

Concluding on a hopeful note, she stated, “I’m sure that this will happen and we will get a very strong NACAP II that will work to reduce corruption.”