Funding gaps and politics are crippling Ghana’s anti-corruption fight – IMF
Ghana’s fight against corruption is being seriously undermined by chronic underfunding and political interference within key accountability institutions, according to the 2025 IMF Governance Diagnostic Report.
The report warns that the country’s anti-corruption system is close to breaking down.
Conducted in September 2023, the assessment shows that major institutions, including the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), often receive less than half of the budgets approved for them by Parliament.
Because of this, the agencies responsible for investigating corruption, prosecuting financial crimes, protecting public resources and safeguarding whistleblowers lack the basic resources they need to work effectively.
The IMF notes that although Parliament approves annual budgets, the Ministry of Finance frequently releases far less, preventing these bodies from hiring staff, sustaining investigations, improving technology or pursuing complex prosecutions.
Even the OSP, which was created to handle major corruption cases, cannot hire or pay staff without first getting “clearance” from the Ministry of Finance, a requirement the IMF says is inconsistent with true independence.
Beyond funding issues, the report warns that Ghana’s anti-corruption system is fragmented, overlapping and vulnerable to political influence.
This weak structure, combined with financial constraints, greatly reduces its effectiveness.
The IMF highlights unhelpful overlaps between the OSP, EOCO and CHRAJ, all of which investigate corruption but lack clear coordination.
This duplication slows down cases, creates confusion and opens the door for political manipulation.
It also points out that the Attorney-General’s constitutional control over all prosecutions limits the independence of EOCO and the OSP, whose prosecutorial powers are more theoretical than practical.
The report cites the resignation of the first Special Prosecutor and the removal of the Auditor-General as recent examples of political pressure.
Although Ghana has made progress in digitalisation, access to information, and procurement reforms, the IMF says these improvements are overshadowed by serious structural weaknesses.
The institutions meant to enforce anti-corruption laws do not have the independence, resources or clear mandates they need.
Without bold reforms including reliable funding, clearer roles and strong protection from political interference, the IMF warns that corruption will continue to drain public funds, weaken investor confidence and threaten Ghana’s economic recovery.