Public trust in Ghana’s top political leadership has taken a hit, with a majority of citizens now perceiving the Presidency and Parliament as some of the most corrupt institutions in the country.
This alarming trend is revealed in the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition’s (GACC) State of Corruption Report 2024, based on Afrobarometer survey data.
According to the report, there has been a sharp increase in the number of Ghanaians who believe that “most or all” officials in the President’s office and among Members of Parliament are involved in corrupt practices. The Afrobarometer survey, which has tracked public sentiment since 1999, shows that the Presidency and Parliament — once considered among the least corrupt — are now viewed with deep suspicion by the public.
“In 2005, the President and Members of Parliament were among the least perceived to be corrupt,” the report notes. “However, by 2024, they had become the second and fourth most perceived corrupt actors, respectively. This reversal is one of the most concerning findings of the survey.”
The survey also indicates that a growing majority of Ghanaians feel corruption has worsened over the past year. The percentage of citizens stating that corruption “increased a lot” in 2024 mirrors sentiment levels recorded nearly a decade ago, effectively erasing progress made between 2014 and 2017.
Adding to the concern is the perceived lack of safety in reporting corrupt activities. The gap has widened significantly between those who believe they can report corruption “without fear” and those who say they “risk retaliation.” This signals a troubling climate of intimidation and silence, further entrenching corruption at various levels of government.
Experts warn that these perceptions could have grave implications for democratic participation, civic engagement, and national unity.
“When citizens lose faith in the integrity of their top leaders, the legitimacy of governance itself is at stake,” says Professor Ama Aboagye, a political sociologist at the University of Ghana. “It creates a dangerous vacuum of accountability.”
The report also cites the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which tracks anti-corruption mechanisms in African countries. Ghana’s score on this index fell from 62 in 2014 to 46 in 2023, reflecting a weakening of institutional safeguards such as anti-corruption policies, independent investigation bodies, and enforcement mechanisms. The deterioration is further evidence of structural decay in Ghana’s governance infrastructure.
One major concern highlighted by GACC is the lack of progress despite frequent promises by successive governments to fight corruption. “Citizens are not blind,” the report states. “They see the absence of prosecutions, the protection of political allies, and the weaponization of accountability institutions against opponents.”
To rebuild public trust, the report recommends the urgent implementation of robust whistleblower protections, depoliticization of investigative agencies, and real-time transparency in government procurement and spending.
The GACC also calls on civil society, the media, and citizens to continue demanding accountability and to use democratic processes to reward integrity and punish impunity.
