An erstwhile President of Ghana, Nana c, has described corruption as Africa’s single most persistent governance challenge, in spite of progress made in institutional reforms across the continent.

Akufo-Addo said this on Monday in Abuja at the graduation lecture for participants of Course 33 of the National Defence College, NDC, Nigeria, with the theme “Strengthening Institutions for Good Governance in Africa.”

According to the former Ghana leader, although several African nations had set up anti-corruption agencies, many of them were weakened by political interference, under funding and lack of independence.

“In 2023, more than two-thirds of African countries scored below 50 out of 100 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

“Yes, we have anti-corruption agencies across the continent, but too often they are deprived of resources or stripped of real autonomy.

“Still, examples from Rwanda and Botswana show how independent, well-resourced bodies can make a real difference,” he said.

Akufo-Addo emphasized that corruption was not only an ethical issue but a fundamental threat to development, as it eroded public trust, diverted resources, and crippled service delivery.

He added that the fight against corruption requires political will, strong laws, citizen engagement, and technological innovations that close loopholes in public finance and procurement.