Economist and Professor of Finance Godfred Alufar Bokpin has raised concerns over the absence of anti-corruption measures in President John Mahama's proposed 8-point economic reset plan.

Speaking on Joy FM on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, he warned that this critical omission could undermine long-term recovery efforts.

"During the president's inauguration, he highlighted four priority areas, including the fight against corruption. But in this 8-point agenda, corruption isn’t sufficiently addressed. This oversight is concerning, given how crucial transparency is for sustainable growth," he said.

Professor Bokpin’s critique follows Ghana’s 72nd rank out of 180 countries on Transparency International's 2023 Corruption Perception Index, scoring just 43/100, below the Sub-Saharan African average of 44.

A report by myjoyonline.com on May 27, 2025, indicated that several scandals have rocked the nation, including GH¢12.5 billion lost through procurement irregularities between 2020 and 2023.

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) like IMANI Africa also noted that 37% of all government contracts show signs of over-invoicing.

The report added that the UNODC estimates corruption costs Ghana $3 billion annually, while a 2023 Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) survey showed that 72% of businesses cite graft as a major constraint.

According to Afrobarometer, only 9% of Ghanaians trust the government’s anti-corruption efforts.

In response to Professor Bokpin’s concerns, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Ampem Nyarko said the president’s policy framework is both robust and flexible enough to accommodate additional national priorities, including corruption.

“I want to assure everyone that the eight points President Mahama listed can be expanded to include corruption and other key concerns. We’ve made strong statements in the past about our commitment to fighting corruption, so I do not believe that its omission here suggests the President is any less committed. He has made that clear, and he stands by it,” he said.

He added that President Mahama’s emphasis on Public Financial Management (PFM) reflects the administration’s broader intent to tackle corruption head-on.

“PFM, by its nature, speaks to our resolve to fight corruption. Yes, people expect the President to address everything, but if we tried to include every issue, the list could easily grow to over a hundred points. What matters is that these pillars are expandable, they can evolve to reflect the concerns of our citizens,” he added.

“We want to assure Professor Bokpin and all others with genuine concerns that exiting the IMF program will not lead us back into financial mismanagement. We are determined not to return to the IMF,” he emphasised.

“President Mahama has been consistent on this point, this must be the last time Ghana turns to the IMF. We can be disciplined on our own. And we will be,” he concluded.

VPO/MA