Former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, has commended the current Mahama administration for operating for nearly a year without major corruption scandals dominating public discourse, a development he believes could enhance Ghana’s global corruption perception.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, January 5, Mr Domelevo noted that Ghana’s ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is heavily influenced by public perception rather than only confirmed corruption cases. According to him, the lack of high-profile corruption controversies under President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership may positively shape how the country is viewed internationally.
“I don’t know what the results will be,” he said. “But my expectation is that the index should improve, considering that we have gone almost a year into this administration without the kind of scandals we used to hear about.”
Ghana has faced challenges on the CPI in recent years, with frequent corruption allegations and slow judicial processes undermining public trust. Governance analysts, however, suggest that the relative calm and reduced controversy signal a change in political tone and public communication.
Mr Domelevo clarified that his comments do not suggest corruption has been eliminated, but rather that the absence of widespread reports influences public perception.
“I’m not saying corruption is not happening,” he explained. “But the fact that we are not constantly hearing about it affects how people perceive the situation.”
Despite his cautious optimism, he stressed that sustained progress will require concrete reforms, particularly laws targeting unexplained wealth and stronger accountability mechanisms to reinforce the fight against corruption.
