Financial Crime World

EU Launches Anti-Corruption Programme for Ghana, Pledges €20 Million Support

Accra, June 14, 2016

The European Union’s anti-corruption programme for Ghana was launched yesterday with a pledge of €20 million over five years to support the country’s efforts in curbing corruption. The programme, known as ARAP (Anti-Corruption, Rule of Law and Accountability), aims to build the capacity of civic education providers, law enforcement agencies, and other institutions to combat corruption.

Launch Ceremony

The launch ceremony was attended by top government officials, including:

  • Minister of Finance Seth Terkper
  • Acting Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Quayson
  • Deputy Chief of Staff Jonny Osei Kofi
  • Representatives of EU Member States
  • Development partners
  • Civil society organizations
  • Beneficiary institutions

Ambassador William Hanna, Head of the EU in Ghana, emphasized that the programme can only succeed with full ownership and commitment from the government and citizens. He appealed to the government to provide the necessary resources and leadership to help law enforcement agencies deliver on their mandate.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

  • Strengthen the capacity of prosecutors to prosecute corruption cases
  • Build the capacity of the judiciary to hear and decide such cases
  • Support the police and judiciary in combating corruption within their ranks
  • Promote good governance, compliance with the rule of law, and improve accountability in the country

Government Commitment

Minister Terkper commended the EU for its significant contribution to Ghana’s governance process and acknowledged that while the country has made progress in fighting corruption, there are still challenges to be addressed. He pledged government’s commitment to continue implementing anti-corruption measures, including:

  • The Public Procurement Act
  • New Public Financial Management bill
  • The Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System

EU Support

The EU’s anti-corruption programme is aligned with Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) and aims to support the country in achieving its goals of reducing corruption and improving accountability.

CHRAJ’s View

Acting Head of CHRAJ, Richardson, welcomed the EU support, which he said would help implement Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan. He cautioned that under-resourcing and weakening of capacity of governance institutions could threaten the fight against corruption.

The EU’s anti-corruption programme for Ghana is a significant step towards reducing corruption and improving accountability in the country. With €20 million pledged over five years, the programme has the potential to make a lasting impact on Ghana’s governance landscape.