The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, has called on political leaders to put anti-corruption at the center of their agendas as Ghana approaches its 2024 elections.
Stressing that the candidates must go beyond promises and commit to specific, actionable measures that will make a real impact on transparency and accountability.
Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh was speaking at the Anti-Corruption Forum held in Accra under the theme: “Elections and Anti-Corruption: What is the Next Government’s Agenda?”
“This election is a critical opportunity to set an anti-corruption mandate for Ghana,” Mrs. Narteh emphasized. “We are here not only to bring attention to this issue but to secure meaningful commitments that will strengthen governance.”
The forum is part of the GACC’s Pledge Against Corruption (PAC) Campaign, an initiative supported by partners such as the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), and IMANI, which aims to secure clear anti-corruption promises from candidates to serve as a foundation for future accountability.
Assessing Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Progress
Mrs. Narteh noted that while Ghana has committed to improving transparency, the country’s score on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index has shown little progress since 2020. An IMF report has further highlighted weak public accountability and limited citizen involvement in governance as significant challenges for Ghana.
Recent findings by the Open Budget Survey rated Ghana at 17 out of 100 for public participation in budget planning, signaling low citizen engagement in fiscal decisions. Additional studies indicate that Ghana’s debt crisis is largely driven by entrenched corruption in the public sector, adding to economic instability.
Anti-Corruption Lacks Focus in Election Conversations
Mrs. Narteh also highlighted that despite corruption’s wide-ranging impact, it has yet to become a prominent election issue.
Current research shows that Ghanaian voters are primarily focused on issues such as employment, infrastructure, healthcare, and economic management, with anti-corruption receiving little emphasis. A review of major party manifestos reveals only 32 anti-corruption pledges, with just a few addressing enforcement of existing laws.
“Corruption is central to the issues concerning Ghanaians today,” Mrs. Narteh said, “yet it is largely missing from campaign discussions. This needs to change.”
A Call for Accountability and Collective Action
Today’s forum aims not only to bring corruption into the electoral spotlight but also to secure concrete commitments from political parties and their candidates. As part of the PAC Campaign, GACC and its partners will analyze current manifesto promises, clarify public expectations, and document party commitments to hold leaders accountable post-election.
“Achieving a corruption-free Ghana requires collective responsibility,” Mrs. Narteh concluded, urging citizens, institutions, and leaders alike to commit to transparency and accountability.
Through these efforts, the GACC hopes to see Ghana’s future government take bold action to address corruption, strengthening public trust and fostering sustainable development.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Mrs. Mary Addah, also called on Ghanaians and political leaders alike to take a firm stand against corruption as the country heads toward its 2024 elections.
She highlighted the urgent need for unified, actionable commitments that go beyond empty promises, urging leaders and citizens to engage in the “Pledge Against Corruption” as a means of securing accountable governance.
Reflecting on past efforts, Mrs. Addah emphasized that while civil society organizations have fought tirelessly against corruption, the desired results have been elusive.
“We’ve fought this fight individually for years, but the dividends have been disappointing,” she remarked.
“Our goal now is to come together—not just as civil society groups, but as citizens committed to the nation’s progress—to demand clear, robust, and proactive anti-corruption commitments from our leaders.”
A Unified Call for Accountability and Transparency
The “Pledge Against Corruption” campaign, spearheaded by a coalition of civil society organizations, academics, private sector leaders, and concerned citizens, calls on candidates to commit to bold reforms, particularly around public accountability and transparency.
The campaign urges leaders to sign on to tangible, specific pledges, including the passage and enforcement of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, which encompasses asset declaration, conflict of interest provisions, and a gift policy. This bill, Mrs. Addah noted, is critical to ensuring ethical conduct within the public sector.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo/newsghana.com.gh
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