Tamale: Mr Ali Adolf John, the Northern Regional Minister, has called on stakeholders to actively support the formulation of the Ghana National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NEACAP 2026-2030). He emphasized that the government alone cannot win the fight against corruption.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. John made these remarks during a regional stakeholder engagement in Tamale. He highlighted that corruption continues to undermine democracy, erode public trust, and obstruct sustainable development. He described corruption as 'a canker that devastates society and retards collective efforts towards growth,' urging participants to contribute experiences and solutions to enrich the final framework.
The engagement was organized by the National Anti-Corruption Programme at the Office of the President in collaboration with the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC). It brought together civil society organizations, security services, academia, the clergy, youth groups, and state institutions. Mr. John explained that the President had constituted a working group of government agencies, civil society, the judiciary, and subject experts to steer the process of developing the new framework.
He added that NEACAP 2026-2030 would align with global standards such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and focus on prevention, education, institutional strengthening, enforcement, and policy reform. He described the plan as 'not merely a document, but a commitment to the people of Ghana to uphold transparency, accountability, and integrity.'
Mrs. Beauty Emefa Nartey, Executive Director of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), also addressed the forum, warning that corruption in Ghana had become 'normalised' due to gaps in the implementation of the first National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP I: 2015-2024). She emphasized that a new working group had been set up to design NEACAP 2026-2030, drawing on lessons from NACAP I to close implementation gaps, particularly at the local and district levels, and among marginalized groups, to ensure stronger ownership, accountability, and sustainability.
Mrs. Nartey stressed that the new plan would place greater emphasis on ethics, noting that attitudes and behaviors strongly influence the fight against corruption. She highlighted that public servants who demonstrate integrity must be recognized and rewarded to encourage positive conduct, while offenders should continue to face sanctions.
She elaborated on the necessity to bring attention to the commendable behaviors of public servants and reward them as part of the fight against corruption. She emphasized that contributions from participants would help shape the NEACAP 2026-2030 framework, which seeks to be more efficient, adequately resourced, and properly monitored.
The five-year plan, once finalized, is expected to serve as Ghana's principal framework for fighting corruption and promoting ethics in both public and private sectors.
