Vice President of Ghana calls for anti-corruption law

The Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for the introduction of a legally binding national anti-corruption policy to provide continuity for reforms across different political administrations and to prevent the scrapping of policies introduced by previous governments.

She made the call during the High-Level Conference on Revitalising the Anti-Corruption Architecture in Africa.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang argued that a permanent policy backed by legislation would institutionalise anti-corruption efforts and reduce the risk of reversals that often occur when new governments take office.

“Ghana needs a national anti-corruption policy that binds all governments, regardless of party. This will ensure legislative and institutional reforms continue uninterrupted, delivering measurable results,” she said. “Corruption thrives when policies are abandoned for political expediency.”

The Vice President referred to the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), which expired in 2024, as an example of a strategy weakened by changes in political leadership.

She said the current administration, under President John Mahama, is committed to implementing a second NACAP, but stressed that a more permanent and legally enforceable policy was necessary.

“Operation Recover All Loot and the appointment of a Presidential Adviser on the National Anti-Corruption Programme show our resolve, but we must go further with a policy that outlives us,” she added, referring to recent measures undertaken by the government.

The proposal appears to respond to growing public frustration over what is seen as Ghana’s limited progress in fighting corruption.

The 2024 Corruption Perception Index and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance both indicated a decline in the country’s anti-corruption performance despite an existing legal structure.

“Every election cycle, we lose momentum. A binding policy would change that,” said Ms Kathleen Addy, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education, in a contribution from the audience.

Anti-corruption advocate Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor welcomed the Vice President’s call but warned that enforcement would require broad political agreement. “Without agreement from the NPP and NDC, it risks becoming another paper plan,” he told reporters.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the difficulty of building political consensus but underlined the importance of citizen participation.

She said the public, civil society, and the media must play an active role in holding leaders accountable and shaping the direction of anti-corruption reforms.

“This policy must be co-created with citizens to ensure it reflects their demands,” she said.

The proposal is expected to feed into Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process, as anti-corruption stakeholders continue to push for legal measures that would give lasting force to reform efforts.