Transparency International Ghana pushes for anti-corruption reform - Ghana's 2025 corruption score remains at 43
Transparency International (TI) Ghana has called for reforms to strengthen the country's justice system and promote anti-corruption efforts.
The organisation also welcomed the Chief Justice's decision to fast-track the establishment of anti-corruption courts, which it said would speed up the hearing of related cases.
TI, Ghana, made the call for reforms in a press release it issued yesterday to announce the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Ghana's score
The release said Ghana scored 43 out of 100 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, maintaining the same score for the sixth consecutive year, while falling five places to rank 76th among 182 countries assessed.
It attributed the lack of movement partly to the withdrawal of corruption cases involving members of the government through 60:40 settlements, which raised public concern and lowered expectations created by the publication of Operation Recover All Loot.
The anti-corruption organisation stated that the unchanged score shows government anti-corruption efforts are not making enough impact, pointing to continuing weaknesses in enforcement, political accountability, and institutional performance.
Weaknesses
"Ghana's performance reflects persistent weaknesses in enforcement, political accountability, and institutional effectiveness.
Addressing this requires urgent action to strengthen the justice system, safeguard institutional independence, regulate political party financing, and ensure transparency in public office," the press release stated.
Ghana scored 42 in 2024, meaning the one-point increase to 43 in 2025 represented marginal improvement.
The country has stayed around a score of 43 since 2020, which Transparency International Ghana said does not amount to change under the index methodology.
Ghana's corruption perception has declined from its peak score of 48 in 2014.
The rating fell to 40 in 2017 before improving to 41 in 2018 and 2019, which Transparency International Ghana linked to public reaction to a change in government at the time.
The organisation said the index score should be treated as an early signal rather than a final judgement, adding that the country's position points to corruption challenges, weak compliance with legal rules, and institutions under strain.
It also cited interference in the work of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, as well as executive influence, as factors shaping public perception.
The report noted that steps taken in 2025 to increase transparency in corruption investigations and prosecutions, including actions by the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the removal of the former Chief Justice, have not led to an improved perception rating.
Reforms
It also urged Parliament to pass the Community Tribunal Bill, which remains among measures awaiting attention during the current sitting.
Other proposals include adopting the National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Plan, promoting ethical conduct, improving the business environment, revising political party financing rules, protecting civic space and media freedom, and raising awareness among designated non-financial businesses and professions of their anti-money laundering duties.
Global
Globally, corruption levels are rising, with even established democracies recording higher levels amid declining leadership standards.
The global average score stands at 42 out of 100, the lowest level in more than a decade.
