Ghana’s corruption score has seen a slight increase from 42 to 43 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, which was published by Transparency International on February 10, 2026.
The nation is now positioned 76th among 182 countries evaluated in the global index.
However, experts warn that this one-point increase is not statistically significant and does not indicate genuine progress in combating corruption.
The report indicates that Ghana is facing challenges in regaining its peak performance from 2014, when it achieved a score of 48. Following a decline, the “exuberance of a new government” in 2018 provided a temporary uplift, but the score has since remained around the 43-mark.
According to Transparency International, the current score signifies:
- Ongoing corruption across multiple sectors.
- Insufficient enforcement of existing legal and policy frameworks.
- Institutional weaknesses within state agencies tasked with combating corruption.
The 2025 evaluation occurs amidst rising public concern regarding the independence of Ghana’s judicial system. Critics highlight the dismissal of the former Chief Justice and various petitions aimed at removing heads of independent institutions as indicators of possible executive overreach.
Particularly contentious is the 60:40 settlement arrangement, which permitted officials to evade prosecution by returning a fraction of misappropriated funds. This practice has reportedly “dampened public expectations” following the prominent launch of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
Despite the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s initiatives to enhance transparency, the GII observes that these efforts have yet to produce a significant effect on the national perspective.
Ghana’s challenges reflect a wider global decline. The world average remains low at 42, with even established democracies experiencing a decrease in their scores. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the lowest-performing region, averaging merely 32 out of 100.
François Valérian, Chair of the Transparency International Board, stressed that national efforts must be complemented by multilateral action.
“It is essential to safeguard a global order based on rules that emphasize transparency and accountability to the populace,” he remarked, urging a revitalized dedication to international standards.
