Omanghana
The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called for the urgent establishment of an Independent Anti-Corruption and Ethics Commission, citing persistent institutional weaknesses in Ghana’s accountability framework.
The recommendation forms a central part of CDD-Ghana’s One-Year Assessment of the John Mahama II administration, released on February 19, 2026. While acknowledging early governance reforms, the think tank warned that structural and legislative gaps continue to undermine the fight against corruption.
Call for Institutional Consolidation
CDD-Ghana’s report argues that Ghana’s current anti-corruption architecture is fragmented and inefficient. It recommends consolidating the mandates of key institutions—namely the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)—into a single, constitutionally protected commission.
According to the think tank, merging these bodies would eliminate duplication, enhance coordination, and strengthen investigative and prosecutorial efficiency in corruption-related cases.
Strengthening Prosecutorial Independence
A key recommendation in the report is the removal of prosecutorial authority over corruption cases from the Attorney-General. CDD-Ghana proposes transferring this authority directly to the proposed independent commission to reduce the risk of political interference.
The think tank argues that prosecutorial independence is essential for restoring public confidence and ensuring that corruption cases are pursued impartially, regardless of political affiliation.
Legislative and Policy Gaps
While commending the government for launching a Code of Conduct for Political Appointees, CDD-Ghana criticized delays in passing the long-awaited Conduct of Public Officers Bill. The absence of the legislation, the report notes, leaves major loopholes in asset declaration, conflict-of-interest enforcement, and ethical accountability.
The assessment also raised concerns about provisions in the ministers’ code of conduct, particularly a GH₵20,000 gift threshold, which CDD-Ghana described as “alarmingly high” and vulnerable to abuse.
Chronic Underfunding of Accountability Institutions
CDD-Ghana warned that persistent underfunding of oversight institutions continues to weaken Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts. Without sustained and adequate budgetary allocations, the report argues, even well-designed institutions will struggle to deliver meaningful results.
The think tank urged the government to prioritize long-term funding commitments to accountability bodies as part of broader public sector reforms.
A Mixed First-Year Assessment
Overall, the assessment characterized the Mahama administration’s first year as “a story of promising signals constrained by structural realities.” Positive steps such as cabinet restructuring and renewed policy engagement were acknowledged, but the report highlighted uneven delivery on governance reforms, particularly in ethics and accountability.
CDD-Ghana concluded that without decisive institutional reforms and legislative action, Ghana risks entrenching systemic weaknesses that continue to hinder transparency, public trust, and democratic consolidation.
Source: Omanghana
