Anti-corruption fight showing no improvement – CPI
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
Ghana has once again scored zero in the fight against corruption for the fourth consecutive year, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International. The country’s score of 43 out of 100 places it at 70th out of 180 countries and territories included in the 2023 CPI, marking a concerning lack of progress in Ghana’s anti-corruption endeavors.
Mrs. Mary Awelena Addah, Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), revealed that Ghana, with a score of 43, ranks 8th out of 49 Sub-Saharan African countries included in the index, alongside Benin and Senegal, both with the same score. Despite performing better than 39 other Sub-Saharan African countries, including Burkina Faso, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Lesotho, the stagnant position in the rankings is a cause for worry.
Speaking at a roundtable session in Accra, Mrs. Addah expressed concern about Ghana’s lack of progress, emphasizing that the country’s score has remained the same since 2020. She pointed out that an analysis of data from six African countries that experienced stagnation revealed that 67% of them dropped in subsequent years, indicating a potential risk for Ghana.
Mrs. Addah highlighted the pervasive nature of corruption in Ghana, affecting various sectors and penetrating the country’s social fabric.
She cited the impact of corruption on hospitals, road infrastructure leading to accidents, and the persistent issue of illegal mining (galamsey).
The consequences of corruption are evident in needless deaths, poor road conditions from opaque contracts, and the ongoing challenges with galamsey.
The GII boss stressed the urgent need for all stakeholders in the anti-corruption fight to reassess their approach and chart a new course forward.
She emphasized the importance of focusing on major indicators that would propel the fight against corruption into a brighter and more effective light.
