Ghana’s corruption score has increased marginally from 42 to 43 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International on February 10, 2026.
The country now ranks 76th out of 182 nations assessed in the global index.
Despite the slight improvement, experts caution that the one-point rise is not statistically significant and does not reflect real progress in tackling corruption.
The report highlights that Ghana is struggling to reclaim its peak performance of 2014, when it scored 48. After a period of decline, the “exuberance of a new government” in 2018 provided a temporary boost, but the score has since hovered around the 43-mark.
The 2025 assessment comes at a time of growing public concern regarding the independence of Ghana’s justice system. Critics point to the dismissal of the former Chief Justice and various petitions to remove heads of independent institutions as signs of potential executive overreach.
Particularly controversial is the 60:40 settlement arrangement, which allowed officials to avoid prosecution by returning a portion of misappropriated funds. This practice has reportedly “dampened public expectations” following the high-profile launch of Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
Despite the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s efforts to increase transparency, the GII notes these measures have yet to yield a significant impact on the national outlook.
Ghana’s struggle mirrors a broader global decline. The world average remains low at 42, with even established democracies seeing their scores shrink. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the lowest-performing region, averaging just 32 out of 100.
Transparency International Board Chair, François Valérian, emphasized that national action must be paired with multilateral cooperation.
“We need to protect a rules-based global order grounded in transparency and accountability to citizens,” he stated, calling for a renewed commitment to international norms.
