Accra: Mrs. Mary Addah, Executive Director of Transparency International-Ghana, has emphasized the need for sustained action against corruption, highlighting Ghana's inconsistent progress in addressing the issue. She noted that the country's performance on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has not reached the necessary level to achieve significant and lasting improvements in combating corruption.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Addah shared that Ghana's CPI score peaked at 48 points in 2014 but later decreased to 40 points in 2017. During a Youth-Led Dialogue Session organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Accra, she stated that the score recovered to 43 points in 2020 and has remained at that level through 2023, before dropping to 42 points in 2024 and slightly recovering to 43 points in 2025.
Mrs. Addah pointed out that while Ghana is not in a state of collapse, it has failed to make sustained progress in combating corruption and enhancing integrity in public life. She stressed that the stagnation in Ghana's CPI performance should be a concern for citizens, particularly the youth, who play a vital role in reversing the trend.
She encouraged young people to remain engaged with the governance system, demanding accountability and upholding ethical standards in their conduct. Mrs. Addah explained that corruption is not limited to high-level political activities but also appears in everyday practices such as bribery, favoritism, and the abuse of influence.
Highlighting the importance of the rule of law, she stated that power must be exercised within the bounds of law, accountability, and ethical considerations. Public officials, according to Mrs. Addah, must act in the public interest, avoid conflicts of interest, and justify their decisions transparently.
She cited key components of Ghana's integrity framework, including Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution, the Public Procurement Act, the Public Financial Management Act, the Whistleblower Act, and the Right to Information law. Mrs. Addah urged young leaders to demonstrate integrity by acting ethically even in the absence of external pressure.
The dialogue, supported by the European Union and GIZ under the 'Rule of Law and the Fight Against Corruption Project,' aimed to empower youth leaders to promote transparency, accountability, ethical leadership, and respect for the rule of law. Participants included students from various civic clubs and tertiary institutions such as the University of Ghana and University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC).
Mr. Samuel Asare Akuamoah, Deputy Director in charge of Operations at the NCCE, highlighted the economic impact of corruption, citing data from the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) that indicates Ghana loses approximately three billion dollars annually to corruption. He emphasized that combating corruption is an urgent national concern, given the resources lost that could be invested in critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Mr. Akuamoah cautioned against treating the engagement as merely a discussion forum, urging that the ideas and lessons learned should translate into practical actions to strengthen the fight against corruption.