Dr. Osae-Kwapong Calls for Political Will and Administrative Tools to Complement Legal Processes in Anti-Corruption Fight
Project Director at The Democracy Project, Dr John Osae-Kwapong, has cited over-reliance on legal processes and the absence of strong political will as critical weaknesses undermining Ghana’s anti-corruption fight.
Speaking during the NorvanReports X Space Discussion on the theme “State of Corruption in Ghana: Why the Needle Isn’t Moving – What Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Architecture is Getting Wrong”, organised in partnership with the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and the Hewlett Foundation, Dr Osae-Kwapong expressed concern over the overly judicialised nature of anti-corruption efforts.
“In fighting corruption, we often hear calls for political will, but what we see is over-legalisation and politicisation. While due process is important and must be respected, there are political and administrative tools that can be deployed simultaneously to address allegations of corruption without violating rights,” he noted.
Referencing former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s frequent emphasis on due process in response to corruption allegations, Dr Osae-Kwapong acknowledged the importance of constitutional guarantees such as the presumption of innocence and fair trial.
However, he argued that judicial processes are inherently slow and should be complemented by immediate administrative actions such as suspensions or temporary stepping aside of implicated officials.
“For instance, when allegations are leveled against a public official, asking the person to step aside pending investigations is a legitimate administrative step. If exonerated, they can return. This shows seriousness in the fight against corruption,” he stated.
Structural and Institutional Gaps
Dr Osae-Kwapong further highlighted structural gaps within the public sector, especially with regard to internal control systems.
He expressed concern about how major financial infractions flagged in the Auditor-General’s reports often go unnoticed through multiple layers of bureaucracy.
“It baffles me that some infractions go through all administrative processes without being flagged. For example, large sums of public funds being transferred into private accounts without a single red flag, how is that possible under supposedly established oversight mechanisms?” he queried.
The Democracy Project Director stressed that such lapses indicate serious structural weaknesses and a lack of effective internal safeguards within the country’s governance systems.
Jurisdictional Confusion and Institutional Fragmentation
Dr Osae-Kwapong also lamented the lack of coordination among key state accountability institutions, citing instances of jurisdictional overlap and conflicts.
He referenced the recent case involving a former minister, where confusion over institutional mandates between the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) hampered swift action.
“This lack of clarity on institutional mandates—what goes to CHRAJ, what goes to the OSP, what should be taken up by the Attorney General’s Department—creates fragmentation and undermines the effectiveness of the anti-corruption architecture,” he said.
As a solution, he advocated for harmonisation of anti-corruption institutions, potentially through the establishment of a unified legislative framework. He referenced work done by the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) prior to the 2024 elections, which proposed a consolidated legal instrument to streamline anti-corruption institutional mandates.
Call for a Code of Conduct
Dr Osae-Kwapong further underscored the need for the swift passage and implementation of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill as a critical administrative tool for addressing misconduct and promoting accountability.
“A well-enforced code of conduct allows us to act decisively on ethical breaches without waiting years for a legal determination. It is a proactive measure that complements due process,” he stressed.
His remarks echo findings in the 2024 State of Corruption Report by the GACC, which also identified weak political commitment, institutional fragmentation, and failure to implement key reforms as reasons for the lack of significant progress in Ghana’s anti-corruption fight.
