By Celestine Avi
Ghana has reaffirmed its global leadership in the fight against corruption at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Delivering a bold statement on June 16, 2025, Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff and head of Ghana’s delegation, unveiled sweeping anti-corruption reforms and tangible results that position Ghana as a model for accountability and transparency in Africa and beyond.
Speaking at the First Resumed Sixteenth Session of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation Review Group (IRG) and the Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on the Prevention of Corruption, Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo laid out Ghana’s comprehensive anti-corruption framework anchored in constitutional values, strong legislation, and proactive enforcement.
“Our message is clear: corruption has no place in Ghana’s future,” she declared. “We are not only making commitments; we are delivering measurable results.”
She detailed Ghana’s legal and institutional reforms, citing key instruments such as the Criminal Offences Act, the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, the Whistleblower Act, and the Witness Protection Act. She also highlighted the Financial Intelligence Centre’s growing role in detecting and disrupting financial crimes.
Hon. Bampoe Addo announced the forthcoming launch of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan II (NACAP II) in September 2025 and introduced a new state-led initiative—Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL)—focused on asset recovery and deterrence.
“Our recovery efforts are yielding real results,” she revealed. “Over $340,000 has been retrieved by the Special Prosecutor, $11.5 million saved from inflated contracts, and the Audit Service recovered GHS 1.55 billion between 2020 and 2023.”
Underscoring the government’s people-centered approach, she said, “Over 15 million Ghanaians have been reached through sensitization programs. Citizens are no longer spectators in the anti-corruption fight—they are partners.”
Among the institutional reforms outlined were the establishment of special anti-corruption courts, the prohibition of political appointees from acquiring state assets, and the drafting of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill to enhance transparency in public service.
Hon. Bampoe Addo, also announced the creation of a Governance Advisory Council to oversee compliance and publish annual governance scorecards.
Touching on fiscal integrity and technological innovation, Hon. Bampoe Addo emphasized the effectiveness of digital tools like GHANEPS (Ghana Electronic Procurement System) and E-VAT, noting a 28% increase in VAT revenue.
“Ghana is not just building systems—we are creating a culture of integrity,” she said, urging global cooperation. “We call on the international community to walk with us in this fight. Corruption anywhere threatens progress everywhere.”
The UNCAC platform in Vienna serves as a peer review and technical assistance mechanism, enabling countries to measure progress, share innovations, and align local systems with global standards to combat corruption more effectively.
