Speaker touts Ghana's strides in corruption fight, highlights key legislations

Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has revealed that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament helped the nation recover over GH¢273 million in 2024 through its diligent scrutiny of public sector finances.

Speaking during a high-level meeting with the African Union Advisory Board against Corruption at Parliament House in Accra on Monday, Mr. Bagbin highlighted Parliament’s proactive role in the national fight against corruption.

 The Speaker further disclosed that in addition to the financial recoveries, the committee made 252 key recommendations aimed at improving transparency and accountability within public institutions.

AU Anti-Corruption Mission in Ghana

The AU Advisory Board, led by Chairperson Madam Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhatè, is on a week-long visit to assess Ghana’s implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. As part of the review, the delegation is engaging with Ghana’s anti-graft agencies, such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), civil society organizations, and other governance bodies.

Madam Diakhatè commended Ghana for its leadership on the continent in anti-corruption efforts, noting that the Board’s assessment and subsequent recommendations would further support institutional reforms and best practices in the country.

Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Legislative Landscape

Mr. Bagbin used the occasion to outline Ghana’s long-standing commitment to eradicating corruption, citing significant legislative and institutional achievements. He referenced the country’s 2001 Zero Tolerance for Corruption policy as a milestone, alongside the enactment of several key laws, including:

The Anti-Money Laundering Act

The Whistleblowers Act

The Witness Protection Act

The Right to Information Act

He further noted the transformation of the Serious Fraud Office into the more robust Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), as well as the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Parliamentary Reforms and Governance Innovations

The Speaker emphasized that Parliament has not remained passive in this effort. He highlighted recent reforms such as the passage of a Code of Conduct for Members and staff, a revision of the Standing Orders, and the establishment of an internal anti-corruption department.

Additional structural initiatives within Parliament include:

The Privileges Committee

The Ethics and Standards Office

The Office of Profits

The Citizens Bureau — a platform through which citizens and CSOs can formally petition Parliament on issues of public concern

Mr. Bagbin stressed that these developments are part of a deliberate effort to entrench accountability and ethical governance in Ghana’s democratic institutions. “We expect every Member of Parliament to uphold the highest standards and serve as a model of integrity,” he added.

Continental Leadership in Governance

On a broader continental front, Mr. Bagbin also chairs the Association of African Speakers, and Ghana’s Parliament is a member of the African Network of Parliamentarians for Good Governance, reflecting the country’s leadership in regional governance reforms.

As Ghana’s anti-corruption structures undergo continental review, the Speaker reaffirmed Parliament’s unwavering commitment to transparency, justice, and institutional integrity.