Ghana made notable progress in the fight against corruption in 2025, with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) recording investigations, convictions and asset recoveries.
But the gains came against a troubling backdrop of persistent financial irregularities, weak enforcement and stalled reforms, according to the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition’s (GACC) State of Corruption Report 2025 launched today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The report said the country’s anti-corruption institutions remained active during the year, but corruption continued to exploit weaknesses in public financial management and accountability systems.
OSP steps up
The Office of the Special Prosecutor emerged as one of the key state actors in the fight against corruption.
According to the GACC report, the OSP initiated 71 investigations and secured seven convictions in 2025.
The office also reported significant financial interventions, including about GH¢5.73 billion in savings, GH¢6.5 million and US$2 million in recoveries, and the seizure of assets valued at more than GH¢102 million.
The figures point to increased activity in investigation, prosecution and asset recovery, although the report cautions that such interventions have not yet translated into a decisive reduction in corruption risks.
Billions at risk
The scale of financial irregularities identified by the Auditor-General remains a major concern.
The GACC report puts the combined cost of irregularities across public boards and statutory institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) at GH¢20.49 billion.
For public boards, corporations and other statutory institutions, irregularities rose sharply from GH¢8.8 billion in 2023 to GH¢18.4 billion in 2024.
The report describes the increase as a signal of weak expenditure controls, particularly in areas such as procurement, contracts, cash management, taxes and recoverable loans.
MDAs still leaking funds
Irregularities involving MDAs amounted to about GH¢2.1 billion.
Although this represented a 14.6% reduction from the previous year, the report says increases in cash, outstanding debts and recoverable loans, payroll, procurement and rent-related irregularities remain worrying.
The findings suggest that improvements in some areas have not eliminated weaknesses in internal controls.
District assemblies
At the district level, financial irregularities amounted to about GH¢18.9 million in 2024.
The report notes a 14.9% decline overall, but highlights increases in payroll, tax, asset-management and stores-related irregularities.
GACC says the recurring nature of these problems indicates that existing administrative and internal control systems can be circumvented without sufficient consequences.
Audit Service recoveries
The Ghana Audit Service also recorded recoveries during the year.
A nationwide payroll audit involving 2,408 separated staff identified about GH¢150.36 million in unearned salaries, allowances and other financial irregularities.
The Service recovered approximately GH¢10 million from that amount.
Routine audits also resulted in the recovery of a further GH¢14.95 million in unearned salaries and other irregular payments.
Progress, but not enough
The report credits state institutions with increased investigations, audits, recoveries, public education, intelligence sharing and capacity building.
The Financial Intelligence Centre strengthened anti-money-laundering measures, while CHRAJ, the Attorney-General’s Office and the Judiciary pursued reforms around transparency, ethics, complaints handling and public engagement.
Civil society organisations, including GACC, Transparency International Ghana, CDD-Ghana and the Media Foundation for West Africa, also contributed to public education, advocacy and accountability initiatives.
Reforms
Despite these efforts, GACC says Ghana's anti-corruption architecture continues to face major constraints.
Legislative reforms have stalled, enforcement remains inconsistent and accountability institutions face funding challenges.
The report warns that dependence on donor support can undermine the sustainability and independence of anti-corruption efforts.
It also argues that stronger investigations and asset recoveries, while important, have yet to produce a significant change in public perceptions of corruption.
GACC's assessment is that Ghana has the institutions needed to prevent, investigate and punish corruption.
The challenge is ensuring that those institutions have the political support, resources and independence required to enforce the rules consistently.
The report calls for accelerated legal reforms, adequate and sustainable funding for accountability institutions, fair and impartial enforcement, stronger internal controls and deeper cooperation between state institutions and civil society.
Its central message is clear: Ghana's anti-corruption machinery is working, but corruption remains resilient because weaknesses in enforcement and governance continue to create opportunities for abuse.
