A new policy brief by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition has warned that Ghana’s anti-corruption campaign could face growing public distrust unless government agencies improve transparency around investigations, prosecutions, asset recoveries and enforcement outcomes.
The report, which assessed the government’s anti-corruption performance throughout 2025, acknowledged what it described as “observable progress” in some key areas, including investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), payroll integrity interventions and new executive conduct rules for political appointees. However, it stressed that major implementation and accountability gaps remain.
According to the coalition, the biggest weakness in the current system is the absence of a unified public tracking mechanism for corruption-related cases, particularly matters linked to the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
The report noted that while several public announcements have been made concerning investigations and referrals, independent verification remains difficult because there is no central platform showing the status of cases, court filings, recoveries, frozen assets or prosecution outcomes.
“A unified public tracking system is necessary to support independent verification of case progression, court filings, restraint measures, asset recovery totals, and enforcement outcomes across ORAL related matters and other high value cases,” the report stated.
The coalition said public confidence in the anti-corruption campaign now depends less on political rhetoric and more on whether institutions can demonstrate measurable outcomes.
The report highlighted that Ghana’s Corruption Perceptions Index score remains at 43, ranking the country 76th out of 182 countries, indicating what it described as limited progress in public sector integrity.
It further referenced findings from the Auditor-General showing that financial irregularities in public boards, corporations and statutory institutions rose sharply from GH¢8.8 billion in 2023 to more than GH¢18.4 billion in 2024, representing a 109 per cent increase.
The coalition argued that the scale of the irregularities demonstrates continuing weaknesses in procurement systems, payroll management, contract administration and internal controls.
Despite the concerns, the report credited the OSP with providing the clearest evidence of enforcement activity during 2025. It pointed to investigations involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), the National Cathedral project, procurement matters at the Gaming Commission and payroll fraud investigations conducted jointly with the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
The report stated that investigations into the SML contracts reportedly resulted in savings of over GH¢5.7 billion and prevented additional losses estimated at GH¢1.4 billion.
It also noted that a payroll integrity exercise blocked more than GH¢2.8 million in what it described as unjustified salary payments and removed ghost names from the public payroll system.
The coalition further cited the introduction of a Code of Conduct for political appointees in 2025 as one of the administration’s key governance measures. The code restricts political appointees from purchasing state property directly or indirectly and seeks to prevent abuse of office for private gain.
However, the report warned that the restriction remains administrative and not yet backed by enforceable legislation.
“The Government’s manifesto pledge to prohibit political appointees and exposed individuals from acquiring state assets has been operationalised through an administrative Code of Conduct,” the report said, adding that stronger legislation would still be required to address indirect acquisitions and proxy arrangements.
The coalition also observed that proposals to establish an Independent Value for Money Office and specialised financial courts had not yet moved beyond policy announcements and public statements.
While government had signalled intentions to reform procurement oversight and establish special courts for audit-related infractions, the report said there was still limited evidence of operational implementation, staffing structures or court procedures.
The coalition recommended that government publish quarterly dashboards tracking corruption cases, recoveries and sanctions across agencies including the OSP, EOCO and the Attorney-General’s Department.
It also called for the formal institutionalisation of ORAL, stronger procurement oversight mechanisms, legislation on conflict of interest and beneficial ownership, and the operationalisation of specialised financial courts.
The report concluded that the credibility of Ghana’s anti-corruption drive in 2026 would depend on “delivery rather than announcements,” warning that public trust would continue to weaken if enforcement systems remain opaque and difficult to independently verify.
