Dr Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of CHRAJ
Dr Joseph Whittal, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has underscored the urgency and gravity of Ghana’s anti-corruption fight.
Dr Whittal made these remarks at the launch of the final evaluation report on Ghana’s maiden National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP 2015–2024) in Accra on April 4, 2025.
In his address, the CHRAJ boss emphasised that the end-of-term evaluation marked a critical moment in Ghana’s democratic journey, reflecting on the country’s 10-year strategic battle against corruption.
“Today, we launch the evaluation report of Ghana’s 10-year anti-corruption strategy, a bold fight against a canker threatening our nation’s future. The stakes are high, the questions are tough, but the mission is vital," he said.
He described NACAP as a comprehensive, coordinated framework that integrated prevention, education, enforcement, and capacity-building, and called on all stakeholders to soberly reflect on its impact.
Quoting the Constitution, Dr Whittal reiterated CHRAJ’s constitutional mandate to investigate corruption and related offenses and noted that Ghana’s fight against corruption must be a national endeavor, rooted in institutional integrity and supported by independent bodies like the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Office, EOCO, and the OSP.
He acknowledged that while the strategy had seen some success, the evaluation raised sobering questions, “Have we moved forward or backward? Have we ensured value for money in our implementation efforts? Do we need another NACAP, or should we throw our hands in the air?”
He further recognized the efforts of various NACAP implementing bodies, including CHRAJ’s own NACAP Implementation Support Unit (NISU), the High-Level Implementation Committee (HiLIC), the Monitoring Committee (MONICOM), and numerous civil society and private sector stakeholders.
Delivering the keynote address, the Guest of Honor and Chairperson of HiLIC, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, who also serves as Deputy Chief of Staff, admitted that the evaluation report “has not given us a clean slate” in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts.
Citing findings from Transparency International, Afrobarometer, and the Ghana Statistical Service, she lamented that corruption continues to erode public trust and accountability.
“Corruption remains a significant challenge that undermines social justice, sustainable economic growth, and democratic principles upon which societies are built,” Nana Oye stated.
Nana Oye also referenced international success stories in the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Zambia, stressing that Ghana can similarly turn the tide if it draws from best practices, embraces digital governance, strengthens institutions, and fosters political will.
She highlighted Ghana’s dip in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), with a drop from 43 in 2023 to 42 in 2024, signaling declining public confidence in anti-corruption efforts.
Referencing scandals uncovered by the “Operation Recover All Loot” Committee (ORAL), she pointed to staggering financial losses, including the controversial $58 million National Cathedral, the $222.7 million Bank of Ghana headquarters, and the $4.5 billion National Service Scheme ghost names scandal.
To reverse the trend, she outlined President John Mahama’s renewed anti-corruption commitment, citing initiatives from the NDC’s “Resetting Ghana” manifesto, including:
•Launching “Operation Recover All Loot” to trace and recover stolen assets.
•Creating a State Assets Registry.
•Enacting the conduct of Public Officers Bill.
•Establishing a special court to try corruption-related offenses.
•Supporting the Auditor-General’s surcharge powers.
•Curbing abuse of procurement procedures.
AM/MA
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