The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has reinforced Ghana’s standing as a regional and global leader in the fight against corruption following a landmark outcome at the world’s largest anti-corruption summit held in Doha, Qatar.
Addressing the 11th Session of the Conference of States Parties (CoSP 11) to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Speaker Bagbin described corruption as a shared national responsibility and a constitutional concern. He stressed that Ghana’s anti-corruption approach is anchored in strong political leadership, preventive reforms, asset recovery, and robust institutions.
He highlighted key national initiatives, including the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), reforms in public procurement, and the digitalisation of public financial management systems. The Speaker also cited asset recovery and enforcement mechanisms led by institutions such as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), while calling for stronger international collaboration to combat cross-border corruption.
A major breakthrough for Ghana at the conference, Speaker Bagbin noted, was the adoption by consensus of the first-ever UNCAC resolution on transparency in political party financing, election campaigns, and candidatures for public office.
Working in partnership with Norway, Albania, and Mongolia, Ghana successfully led negotiations that resulted in the historic resolution, which affirms citizens’ right to know who finances political activity and electoral processes.
On prevention—described as the cornerstone of Ghana’s anti-corruption strategy—the Speaker stressed that corruption must be tackled at its roots by promoting ethical values, closing systemic gaps, and limiting opportunities for abuse of power.
He noted ongoing efforts to strengthen integrity within the public service, reform procurement and financial management systems, and expand oversight and citizen participation, in line with the 2025 Code of Conduct for Government Officials.
The Chief Justice, H.L. Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who supported Ghana’s delegation, acknowledged progress achieved under NACAP but pointed to persistent challenges in translating national reforms into tangible local-level impact. He emphasised the importance of evidence-based policymaking and sustained international cooperation in consolidating gains.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, H.E. Matilda Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, highlighted the country’s benefits from technical assistance provided by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), particularly in legal reforms, asset recovery, and the evaluation of anti-corruption strategies. She called for expanded support for developing countries to strengthen institutional capacity.
The Doha conference concluded with the adoption of the Doha Declaration 2025, reaffirming global commitment to international cooperation, technical assistance, and the responsible use of emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—in combating corruption.
Ghana’s leadership at CoSP 11 positions the country at the forefront of global efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and integrity in democratic governance.
The conference brought together more than 2,500 delegates from 170 UN member states under the theme “Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,” to review corruption challenges and assess progress in implementing the UNCAC.
Source: 3news
