Corruption continues to be a persistent issue influencing citizens' perceptions of government performance worldwide, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI).

Despite ongoing efforts to combat corruption, Ghana's score remains low, showing a decline from previous years.

Ghana has scored 42 out of a possible 100 in the CPI 2024, ranking 80th out of 180 countries assessed globally. This represents a slight drop from the country’s 2023 score of 43, signalling setbacks in the nation's efforts to address corruption. Over the past decade, Ghana has seen a consistent decline in its CPI score, dropping five points since 2015.

The latest report indicates that, despite several policy interventions and institutional reforms aimed at addressing corruption, the country still faces significant challenges in improving governance. Experts believe that a review and strengthening of legal, administrative, and policy reforms is urgently needed to make tangible progress.

Regional Context: Ghana's Position in Sub-Saharan Africa

In the context of Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana's performance ranks 11th out of 49 countries in the region. While it remains ahead of countries like Burkina Faso, South Africa, and Tanzania, it lags behind regional leaders such as Seychelles, Cabo Verde, Botswana, Rwanda, and Mauritius.

The region as a whole continues to grapple with corruption, as it recorded the lowest average CPI score of just 33 out of 100, with 90% of countries scoring below 50.

Notably, some African nations have made strides in anti-corruption efforts. Tanzania, for instance, has improved its score by 10 points since 2014, with significant reforms including the removal of high-level public officials suspected of corruption and the establishment of a specialized court for economic crimes.

Global Trends: A Year of Declining Scores

Globally, the CPI 2024 report reveals a disturbing trend: more than two-thirds of the countries assessed scored below 50, indicating widespread corruption problems in the public sector. The global average score remains stagnant at 43, suggesting minimal progress over the past decade.

Countries with weak democratic institutions, poor law enforcement, and insufficient anti-corruption frameworks continue to fare poorly in the index.

François Valérian, Chair of Transparency International, emphasized that corruption remains a serious global threat that undermines development, destabilizes democracies, and contributes to human rights violations.

He called on governments worldwide to prioritize the fight against corruption to ensure a peaceful and sustainable future.

Corruption and the Climate Crisis

This year’s CPI report highlights the critical intersection between corruption and the global climate crisis. Corruption hampers climate action by diverting resources meant for environmental protection, while weak environmental policies and unenforced regulations exacerbate the damage.

In countries with poor CPI scores, land and environmental defenders often at the forefront of the fight against climate change are increasingly subjected to violence and intimidation.

In Ghana, corruption in the allocation of mining licenses has been a significant issue, as abuse of power jeopardizes the integrity of natural resources.

A recent incident involving a journalist and staff members of Multimedia Group Limited, who were allegedly attacked by armed men linked to a mining company, underscores the dangers posed by corruption in the sector.

Recommendations for Reform: A Path Forward

To address these ongoing issues, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has put forward a series of recommendations aimed at improving governance and tackling corruption in the country:

1. Enhance Oversight: Empower the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with enforcement authority and establish the Budget and Fiscal Analysis Department (BFAD) to ensure better fiscal discipline and transparency.
2. Anti-Corruption Court: Establish a specialized anti-corruption court to expedite cases, similar to Tanzania’s model.
3. Merit-Based Appointments: Depoliticize the civil and public service by implementing merit-based appointments and promotions overseen by an independent commission to reduce corruption and enhance competence.
4. Whistleblower Protection: Strengthen legal protections for whistleblowers and journalists to safeguard those exposing corruption.
5. Legislative Action: Fast-track the passage of the Conduct of Public Officers' Bill and the Internal Audit Agency Bill to bolster transparency and accountability.
6. Transparency in Climate Finance: Ensure clearer tracking of climate finance at national and local levels to enhance accountability in addressing environmental issues.
7. Review Political Financing: Reassess political party financing laws to curb undue influence on governance and ensure fairer electoral processes.