Government’s commitment to corruption fight unwavering – Bampoe Addo

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, the Deputy Chief of Staff, spoke about corruption. She emphasized the government's commitment to fighting it. The goal is to make corruption a high-risk venture for offenders.

She made these remarks at the launch of the Final Evaluation Report of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) in Accra on Friday. This 10-year plan ran from 2015 to 2024. Its main goals included building public capacity to fight corruption and promoting accountability.

The plan aimed to engage individuals, media, and Civil Society Organizations in reporting corruption. It also focused on effective investigations and prosecutions of corrupt activities.

Nana Oye expressed disappointment over the slow progress against corruption in Ghana. Despite NACAP's implementation over ten years, little has changed. She noted that Ghana’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) showed minimal improvement.

In 2022 and 2023, Ghana maintained a CPI score of 43. This indicated stagnation in anti-corruption efforts. In 2024, however, the score dropped slightly to 42, reflecting declining public trust.

Recent surveys by Transparency International and others confirmed this lack of progress. Nana Oye stated that these surveys show corruption remains a significant challenge in Ghana. She added that the report does not present a positive outlook on combating corruption.

Despite these issues, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting corruption. The “Operation Recover All Loot” initiative demonstrates this dedication. President Mahama has appointed Professor Francis Dodoo as a Presidential Advisor for anti-corruption efforts.

Nana Oye announced plans for NACAP II to further reduce corruption in Ghanaian society. The government aims to meet international anti-corruption obligations under UNCAC while supporting NACAP II's development.

Professor Simon Mariwah presented findings from the Evaluation Report. He stressed the need for dedicated funding for NACAP II's success. While previous activities met key objectives, they lacked sustained financial support.

He urged CHRAJ to secure long-term funding for anti-corruption initiatives through a dedicated NACAP Fund. Regular evaluations during NACAP II implementation are also necessary for tracking progress.

Dr Joseph Whittal from CHRAJ said they would adopt recommendations from the report for future plans. He highlighted sustainable funding as crucial for ensuring smooth operations of NACAP II.

He concluded by emphasizing that lessons learned include the importance of dedicated funding for sustainability.