Ghana continues to lose an estimated $3 billion annually to corruption—an amount comparable to its current IMF bailout—according to the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII).
Despite increased funding to key anti-corruption bodies, the fight against graft remains hampered by systemic weaknesses and sophisticated criminal tactics.
The 2024 Auditor-General’s report revealed financial irregularities totalling GHC18.4 billion ($1.8 billion) across various state institutions, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
However, conviction rates remain critically low, even as budget allocations for agencies such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) have risen.
Policy think tank IMANI Africa attributes this shortfall to glaring systemic gaps highlighted in its latest Criticality Analysis. Both OSP and EOCO lack essential forensic tools and specialised personnel to tackle complex crimes involving shell companies, digital laundering, and offshore accounts.
High-profile cases—such as a $28 million extortion scheme in the fuel sector and fraud networks within the education service—have produced few prosecutions, fueling public frustration.
Judicial bottlenecks further undermine anti-corruption efforts. Outdated legal frameworks compel investigators to focus on “media-worthy” cases while more technical financial crimes evade thorough scrutiny.
Charge sheets often lean on legal technicalities rather than clear narratives, confusing the public and resulting in frequent plea bargains. Additionally, protracted trials with no statutory deadlines allow suspects to manipulate court proceedings, eroding confidence in the Mahama administration’s commitment to curbing graft.
IMANI Africa recommends four key reforms to address these challenges: introducing statutory timelines for financial crime trials, mandating narrative-based indictments that clearly explain theft mechanisms and impacts, establishing integrated electronic filing systems, and funding specialised forensic units.
The think tank warns that without synchronising prosecutorial and judicial processes, corruption will continue to outpace enforcement, threatening Ghana’s governance and economic stability.
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