Corruption in Ghana

Political corruption in Ghana has been common since independence. Since 2017, Ghana's score on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index has improved slightly from its low point that year, a score of 40 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). In the succeeding years, Ghana's score has either risen or remained steady: in the year 2022, Ghana scored 43. When ranked by score among the 180 countries in the 2022 Index, Ghana ranked 72nd, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector. For comparison, the best score in 2022 was 90 (ranked 1) and the worst score was 12 (ranked 180).

Even though corruption in Ghana is relatively low as compared to other countries in Africa, businesses frequently quote corruption as an obstacle for doing business in the country. Corruption occurs often in locally funded contracts and companies are subject to bribes when operating in rural areas.

In a 1975 book, Victor T. Le Vine wrote that bribery, theft and embezzlement arose from reversion to a traditional winner-takes-all attitude in which power and family relationships prevailed over the rule of law. Corruption in Ghana is similar to other countries in the region. Corruption in Ghana affects, among other sectors, natural resource management. Despite government efforts to quell corruption, local elites take advantage of limited transparency and accountability to take control of community natural resources for their personal financial benefit.

Ghana is not a signatory to the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery. It has however taken steps to amend laws on public financial administration and public procurement. The public procurement law which was passed in January 2004 seeks to harmonize the many public procurement guidelines used in the country and also to bring public procurement into conformity with World Trade Organization standards. The new law aims to improve accountability, value for money, transparency and efficiency in the use of public resources.

However, some in civil society have criticized the law as inadequate. The government, in conjunction with civil society representatives, is drafting a Freedom of Information bill, which will allow greater access to public information. Notwithstanding the new procurement law, companies cannot expect complete transparency in locally funded contracts. There continue to be allegations of corruption in the tender process and the government has in the past set aside international tender awards in the name of national interest.

Business report being asked for "favors" from contacts in Ghana, in return for facilitating business transactions. The Government of Ghana has publicly committed to ensuring that government officials do not use their positions to enrich themselves. Official salaries, however, are modest, especially for low-level government employees, and such employees have been known to ask for a "dash" (tip) in return for assisting with license and permit applications.