Nigeria ranked as the 36th most corrupt country, while Ghana ranked 76th
Ghana’s corruption score has increased marginally from 42 to 43 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International on February 10, 2026.
The country now ranks 76th out of 182 countries assessed globally.
Despite the slight improvement, governance experts caution that the one-point rise is not statistically significant and does not indicate meaningful progress in the fight against corruption.
The report notes that Ghana continues to struggle to reclaim its best-ever CPI performance in 2014, when it scored 48. After a period of steady decline, the exuberance surrounding a new government in 2018 provided a temporary boost. However, the score has since stagnated around the 43-point mark.
According to Transparency International, Ghana’s current score reflects:
- Persistent corruption across multiple sectors
- Weak enforcement of existing legal and policy frameworks
- Institutional fragility within state agencies mandated to combat corruption
The 2025 assessment comes amid growing public concern about the independence of Ghana’s justice system. Critics point to the dismissal of the former Chief Justice and a series of petitions seeking the removal of heads of independent institutions as indicators of possible executive overreach.
One of the most controversial issues highlighted is the 60:40 settlement arrangement, which allows public officials accused of corruption to avoid prosecution by returning a portion of misappropriated funds. Governance analysts say this approach has “dampened public expectations,” particularly following the high-profile launch of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
While the Office of the Special Prosecutor has taken steps to improve transparency and accountability, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) notes that these efforts have yet to produce a measurable improvement in the country’s overall corruption outlook.
Ghana’s challenges reflect a broader global trend. The worldwide average CPI score remains low at 42, with several established democracies also recording declines. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the lowest-scoring region, averaging just 32 out of 100.
Commenting on the findings, Transparency International Board Chair François Valérian stressed that domestic reforms must be reinforced through 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 norms.
Read:
Frim Pong
Comments ()