Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has raised alarm over the deepening grip of corruption on Ghana’s governance and development, describing it as an endemic challenge that threatens both democracy and the nation’s progress.

Speaking at the Accra International Conference Centre during the launch of a five-day stakeholder engagement on Ghana’s new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NEACAP), Mr. Debrah said corruption prevention must no longer be treated as an afterthought but as a central pillar of national development.

“Government resources are limited. We face daily demands to fund health, education, roads, housing and other critical sectors,” he said. “But we must recognize that corruption prevention is not a competing priority—it is a fundamental one. If we fail to protect our resources, we will never have enough to build schools, hospitals, and roads, or create the decent jobs our youth deserve.”

The Chief of Staff pointed to lessons from the previous NEACAP (2015–2024), noting how underfunding and weak political commitment undermined its effectiveness. To prevent a repeat, he said the new NEACAP (2026–2030) has been placed directly under the Office of the President for stricter oversight and prioritization.

He further warned that corruption is no longer confined to public institutions, citing the recent GH Probe–JoyNews exposé on widespread exam malpractice in the 2025 BECE.

“Recent events remind us that ethical decay is not confined to our institutions only. It is creeping into our homes, our schools, and our future. That is why ethics must be central to the new plan, not just as a policy, but as a national culture,” he emphasised.

Mr. Debrah assured that government is committed to adequately funding the new framework, stressing that “funding ethics and anti-corruption is not a cost—it is an investment.”