Voices from the field - Daniel Addo Asiedu

Daniel Addo Asiedu

Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited, Accra

In your professional experience, what is the most significant anti‑corruption risk or enforcement challenge currently affecting your country or region?

The most significant anti-corruption challenge in Ghana today is the persistent gap between uncovering wrongdoing and enforcing consequences. Audit reports and investigations regularly reveal procurement breaches, payroll fraud and the misuse of public funds, yet these findings often stall before reaching prosecution or recovery. For example, issues repeatedly flagged by the Auditor-General of Ghana generate public attention but have limited follow-through in terms of sanctions.

A recurring trend is the uneven handling of cases involving politically exposed persons, particularly after changes in government. High-profile matters such as the National Service Scheme ghost names scandal show how investigations can be prolonged or inconclusive, reinforcing perceptions of selective accountability.

Structurally, institutions like the Office of the Special Prosecutor face resource and independence constraints, limiting their ability to pursue complex cases. The result is a system where rules exist, but the certainty of punishment remains low, meaning that deterrence efforts are weakened.

How is this issue being addressed in your organisation, sector or jurisdiction?

Ghana’s response to its enforcement challenges is slowly moving from rhetoric to more concrete action, though progress remains uneven. A notable shift is the stronger, more visible role of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which has intensified investigations, taken on high-profile cases and placed greater focus on asset recovery and prevention. Measures such as issuing wanted notices and pursuing extradition point to a more assertive approach.

At the policy level, there is increasing recognition that the legal framework is fragmented. Efforts to strengthen laws and close gaps are ongoing, alongside maintaining oversight of institutions like the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Reforms are also targeting high-risk sectors, especially procurement and mining, with greater emphasis on transparency, monitoring and traceability in gold trade. Preventive measures, including payroll audits and public education are gaining ground. While these steps are promising, lasting impact will depend on consistent enforcement and stronger institutional independence.

Based on your experience, what is one practical lesson, implementation challenge or effective approach that may be relevant to practitioners in other jurisdictions?

A key lesson from practice in Ghana is that passing laws is only half the job − what matters is what happens after problems are identified. Many systems, particularly in procurement and public finance, are well designed on paper but falter because no single institution is clearly responsible for ensuring follow-through. One approach that is starting to make a difference is the closer link between audit findings and enforcement. Work by the Auditor-General and the Office of the Special Prosecutor show that audits have greater impact when they are quickly followed by surcharges, recoveries or referrals for prosecution. Payroll audits, for example, have been more effective where action is taken immediately rather than delayed. The main challenge remains coordination. Cases often stall because timelines are unclear and responsibility is shared across agencies. In practice, systems work better when they include clear deadlines, automatic referrals and simple tracking − so once an issue is flagged, action is expected, not optional.

Looking ahead, what emerging development, regulatory shift or risk area are you monitoring most closely?

Looking ahead, Ghana’s anti-corruption landscape is being shaped by a steady shift toward digitised public financial management and rising expectations for stronger enforcement. Payroll, tax and procurement systems are increasingly moving onto integrated platforms, changing the risk profile from traditional paper-based fraud to concerns around abuse to system access, manipulation of digital records and gaps in internal IT controls. Attention is also on the Office of the Special Prosecutor and whether its expanded focus on prevention and asset recovery will translate into faster, more consistent outcomes. The pressure is growing for visible results, not just ongoing investigations. At the same time, cross-border compliance in the extractives sector − especially for gold trading − is tightening. Efforts to improve traceability are exposing weaknesses in informal supply chains and raising the bar for compliance. The key question going forward is whether institutions can keep pace with this shift − balancing stronger digital systems, higher enforcement expectations and the coordination needed to deliver consistent outcomes.