Transparency International has released the latest Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking Ghana 70th out of 180 countries in terms of corruption.

Ghana scored 43 out of 100, the same since 2020. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana scored better than 39 countries, including Burkina Faso (41), South Africa (41), Côte d'Ivoire (40), Tanzania (40), and Lesotho (39).

However, it ranked lower than seven countries in the region, including Mauritius (51), Namibia (49), and Sao Tome and Principe (45). The average score for African countries remains low, at 33 out of 100, with 90% of Sub-Saharan African nations scoring below 50.

The Board Chairman of TI, François Valérian, stated that, “Corruption will continue to thrive until justice systems can punish wrongdoing and keep governments in check. When justice is bought or politically interfered with, it is the people who suffer. Leaders should fully invest in and guarantee the independence of institutions that uphold the law and tackle corruption. It is time to end impunity for corruption.”

The Rule of Law Index indicates a global decline in the functioning of justice systems, and countries scoring low on the index also rank poorly on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

This correlation highlights the close relationship between access to justice and levels of corruption, suggesting that improvements in the former could lead to improvements in the latter.

The Akufo-Addo-led government has been accused of setting a conducive space for all manner of corrupt activities to take place.

Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has taken a swipe at the alleged corrupt dealings of the current government, stating that corruption is currently on the loose and running all over the country without control.

Mahama, during his tour of the Volta region, said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lacks the ability to eradicate corruption because its own people are engaged in the canker.

“Now, corruption has broken loose and if it was in the IGP’s custody, it has broken the jail and is running all over the country. It’s obvious that the NPP has no desire or the ability to check corruption because their own people are involved in the corruption, and they cannot deal with it.”

Addressing weaknesses in the justice system should be a key focus of anti-corruption efforts and GII has recommended the following:

The Executive should urgently take steps to lay the Conduct of Public Officers’ Bill in Parliament ensuring that provisions on assets declaration require verification and come with severe sanctions for non-compliance while GII also calls on the Legislature to attach an equal level of urgency to its timely passage.

The Executive and the Legislature must take steps to bridge the legal gaps necessary for the prosecution of selected corruption cases outside our current legal framework. These anti- corruption frameworks include unexplained wealth, influence peddling, and all aspects of the UNCAC, among others.

Government must give the justice system the resources and transparency needed to effectively punish all corruption offenses and provide checks and balances on power. Where necessary, they must also introduce better procedures and laws to help justice institutions shield themselves from and target corrupt acts.

Laws that criminalise defamation or give judges discretion to award crippling compensation in libel cases inhibit the media from investigating and reporting suspected criminality and should be reformed. Journalists must be able to comment fairly on legal proceedings and report suspected or actual corruption or bias.

The Judicial Service should institute limited immunity for judges in matters related to judicial duties while excluding immunity in corruption or criminal cases. Expand, strengthen and increase knowledge of the public on the Public Relations and Complaint Unit (PRCU) of the Judicial Services. This will ensure a confidential and rigorous whistleblower policy for reporting suspected breaches, ensuring the involvement of lawyers, court users, prosecutors, police, media, and civil society.