Detailed Information :

Ghana

Year of Establishment: 2000

Project Phase: Long-Term Initiative (implementation phase)

Participants: Ghana Integrity Initiative (TI Ghana); Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana); Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA-Ghana); Ghana Journalists Association (GJA); Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ); Serious Fraud Office (SFO); Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF)

Scope:

• Playing a watchdog role in ensuring the effective implementation of anti-corruption actions and programs for which the government has primary responsibility.

Key Facts:

Description:

• The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) is a principle based initiative which is mandated to build a broad-based anti-corruption coalition through networking, lobbying and information dissemination. It includes civil society, media and private enterprises as well as government departments.
• GACC is a cross- sectional grouping of public, private and civil organizations.
• The GACC coordinates anti-corruption activities by acting as a clearing house, monitoring and evaluating constituent member activities and sourcing resources.

Objectives

• To develop a systematic, broad-based and integrated approach to the fight against corruption in Ghana
• to create a forum for interaction between the three arms of government; public and private sector institutions, and civil society groups working in the area of anti-corruption

Key Learning:

• Consensus building with the political executive is essential to implement anti-corruption measures and public policies;
• Generating a strong political will is critical to attack corruption in a systematic manner at all levels; and
• Prior to the coalition launch, roles and functions for each partner need to be identified.

Mechanisms:

• Cost: the Initiative is supported by the Government of Ghana and its development partners including the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme
• Role of Monitor: this coalition attempts to serve as an anti-corruption watchdog group by building a broad-based coalition
• The GACC organizes seminars, roundtables and corruption perception surveys, develops training programs, and advocates for appropriate legal and institutional reforms in cooperation with its members.

Benefits:

• Provides a forum for interaction among various stakeholders from civil society, private sector, and government working on the issue of corruption

Links:

• Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition
• Private Enterprise Foundation
• Ghana Integrity Initiative
• Ghana Center for Democratic Development

Source:

• Yaw Buaben Asamoa. “National Strategies for Combating Corruption: the Ghana Experience.” Presented at the African Development Bank Regional Learning Workshop on 27-30 January 2003 in Addis Ababa