President Nana Akufo-Addo has said Ghana's poor ranking on the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) was "largely" influenced by corruption claims in the past regime.

He said the Transparency International's 2017 CPI, which shows a sharp drop in the performance from 2016, is an indication of the "enormity of the task ahead."

Ghana has been ranked 81st out of 180 countries in the latest CPI, scoring 40 marks out of 100. It represented three points drop from its performance in 2016, which was 43.

The 2017 index has revealed more than two-thirds of the countries studied scored below 50, with an average score of 43. Only two countries - New Zealand and Denmark - were ranked highest, with scores of 89 and 88 respectively.

             Country                2017     2016     2015    2014    2013    2012       Region

81	Ghana	40	43	47	48	46	45	Sub Saharan Africa
81	India	40	40	38	38	36	36	Asia Pacific
81	Morocco	40	37	36	39	37	37	Middle East and North Africa
81	Turkey	40	41	42	45	50	49	Europe and Central Asia
85	Argentina	39	36	32	34	34	35	Americas
85	Benin	39	36	37	39	36	36	Sub Saharan Africa
85	Kosovo	39	36	33	33	33	34	Europe and Central Asia
85	Kuwait	39	41	49	44	43	44	Middle East and North Africa

Comparing the latest results with the previous ones, the Berlin-based organisation said the "poor performance is nothing new."

Transparency International observed African countries that performed poorly on the index are led by leaders that run for office on an anti-corruption ticket but failed to "live up to their pledges."

But the release of the CPI results has sparked a debate with members of both the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing each other, for the poor ranking.

Some government officials have said the drop in the ranking was caused by corruption perception in the ex-president John Mahama regime.

But in the first year of President Akufo-Addo's government, various corruption allegations were levelled against some of his appointees, a development he claimed was an attempt by his critics to undermine his administration.

Mr Amidu with president Akufo-Addo and Veep Dr Bawumia after swearing in

Speaking during the swearing in of Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu Friday, the President said corruption claims in the past regime and not his government are, largely to blame for the poor CPI ranking.

"The recent publication of Ghana’s score in the 2017 Corruption Perception Index, organised by Transparency International, showing a further drop in our standing, a result largely based on 'the plethora of corruption allegations/exposés' before the onset of this administration, indicates the enormity of the task ahead," he said.

He has asked Ghanaians to support the former Attorney-General to discharge his duties without fear or favour.

"The Special Prosecutor cannot do it all by himself. He requires the active co-operation of all the institutions of our state, as well as that of the general public, if he is to be successful in the fight against corruption," he said.