Ghana Ranks 76th in 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index as Score Stalls at 43

Ghana has been ranked 76th out of 182 countries in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), with its score stagnating at 43, according to the latest report by Transparency International.

Although the country recorded a marginal one-point increase, analysts caution that the change is not statistically significant and does not indicate meaningful progress in the fight against corruption.

The report notes that Ghana continues to struggle to return to its best performance in 2014, when it scored 48. After a subsequent decline, a brief improvement in 2018  attributed to the optimism surrounding a new government provided temporary relief. Since then, however, the country’s CPI score has remained largely unchanged around the 43 mark.

Transparency International attributes Ghana’s current performance to persistent corruption across multiple sectors, weak enforcement of existing laws and policies, and institutional fragility within agencies mandated to combat graft.

The 2025 assessment comes amid rising public concern over the perceived independence of Ghana’s justice system. Critics have cited the dismissal of a former Chief Justice and petitions seeking the removal of heads of independent institutions as indicators of possible executive interference. Also attracting controversy is the 60:40 settlement arrangement, which allows officials accused of corruption to avoid prosecution by refunding part of misappropriated funds. The practice is said to have dampened public expectations following the launch of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).

While the Office of the Special Prosecutor has taken steps to enhance transparency, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) observes that these efforts have yet to translate into a significant improvement in the country’s overall corruption outlook.

Ghana’s challenges reflect a broader global trend, as the world average CPI score remains low at 42. Even long-established democracies have recorded declining scores, while Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the lowest-performing region, with an average score of 32 out of 100.

Chair of Transparency International’s Board, François Valérian, stressed the need for national reforms to be complemented by stronger international cooperation.

“We need to protect a rules-based global order grounded in transparency and accountability to citizens,” he said, calling for renewed commitment to global anti-corruption standards.