Koforidua: The drafting process for Ghana's new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NEACAP 2026-2030) has begun with regional-level consultations, as stakeholders in the Eastern Region convened in Koforidua to contribute to the framework's development.
According to Ghana News Agency, the engagement brought together participants from district assemblies, civil society organisations, security agencies, media houses, the Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, political parties, and traditional and religious institutions. NEACAP 2026-2030 succeeds the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP 2015-2024), which concluded its implementation cycle last year.
The new framework reflects the Government of Ghana's continued commitment to promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability across all sectors. Addressing the forum, Mrs. Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister, described corruption as a major impediment to national development, noting that it erodes public trust, undermines good governance, and diverts resources from essential services.
Mrs. Awatey noted the importance of renewing and strengthening the national anti-corruption framework through an inclusive, participatory process. She emphasized that the development of this new phase of NEACAP is a critical step forward, and the government of President Mahama is fully committed to its successful formulation and implementation. She pledged full support of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, assuring that the outcomes of the engagement would inform national policy and be translated into action at regional and local levels.
Mr. Jonathan Gador, Research and Policy Coordinator for the National Anti-Corruption Programme at the Office of the President, delivered a presentation titled *Foundation and Evolution of Ghana's Anti-Corruption Efforts: Reflections and Charting the Path Forward*. He explained that NACAP 2015-2024 aimed to build public capacity to condemn and combat corruption, making it a high-risk, low-gain activity. It also sought to institutionalize efficiency and accountability across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors, while promoting effective investigations and prosecutions.
Evaluation findings revealed uneven awareness of NACAP at sub-regional and district levels, with limited knowledge dissemination. Ghana's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scores stagnated or declined-from 43 in 2022-2023 to 42 in 2024-indicating minimal progress in public trust. Mr. Gador noted that the Working Group for NEACAP 2026-2030 was sworn in by the Chief of Staff and operates under the Office of the President and the Presidential Advisor on Anti-Corruption. The group has held multiple technical sessions, a validation workshop in Accra, and follow-up meetings to integrate stakeholder inputs.
He emphasized that the ongoing nationwide engagements are designed to gather insights from diverse Ghanaian groups, especially at the district level and among marginalized populations. Mr. Gador added that aligning NEACAP's priorities with the lived experiences of citizens and frontline actors would ensure its relevance and impact.
