The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has underscored the urgent need for stronger and fully independent anti-corruption institutions as a crucial step toward restoring public trust and promoting national development.
This call was made in the final communiqué issued at the close of the 2025 Plenary Assembly in Damongo.
The Assembly, which gathered all Ghanaian Bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, traditional leaders, government officials, and lay faithful, concluded on Friday, November 14, 2025 at the St. Anne Cathedral.
Reflecting on the moral and socio-economic challenges confronting the nation, the Bishops expressed grave concern over Ghana’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index score of 42/100, ranking the country 80th out of 180 nations.
In the communiqué, the Bishops noted that corruption continues to weaken public institutions, distort justice, and undermine development efforts, especially in vulnerable communities the Bishops engaged during their pastoral visits throughout the Plenary.
Earlier in the week, the Bishops held discussions with the Yagbonwura, His Royal Majesty Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, as well as the Damongowura, and local authorities on matters of accountability, youth welfare, and responsible stewardship.
The GCBC called for the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to be granted genuine operational independence and predictable funding to enable them to carry out their mandates “without fear or favour.”
They stressed that investigations must be guided solely by evidence, professional ethics, and the rule of law, not political pressure or social influence.
The Bishops’ Conference also warned that without visible and consistent enforcement of anti-corruption laws, public confidence will continue to erode.
The Bishops challenged both EOCO and the OSP to demonstrate their independence through transparent and impartial actions that apply equally to all citizens.
In addition to governance concerns, the GCBC noted the relative stability of the Ghanaian cedi in recent months and urged that this macroeconomic improvement be reflected in market prices, which remain high and burdensome for ordinary households across the country.
The Bishops concluded by reaffirming their commitment to standing with the poor and advocating for national systems that promote justice, transparency, and ethical leadership.
They reminded Ghanaians that authentic development is impossible without moral integrity at every level of public life.
By Celestine Edem Gbologah//Newwatchgh.com
