Implemented jointly with Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and SEND-Ghana

TITLE: Accountable Democratic Institutions and Systems Strengthening (ADISS)
DONOR: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
DURATION: September 2014 – September 2019
LOCATION: Greater Accra (Ashaiman, Ga West, Ga East, Ga South, Ada West), Brong Ahafo (Tain, Atebubu-Amantin, Jaman North, Nkronza North and Pru), Eastern (Fanteakwa, Yilo Krobo, East Akim, Akuapem Norht and New Juaben), Volta (Akatsi North, Akatsi South, Central Tongu, Kpando and South Dayi), Western (Ellembele, Sekondi-Takoradi Metro, Bibiani/Anhwaso/Bekwai, Sefwi Wiawso Municipal, Nzema East Municipal), Central (Assin North, Agona West, Cape Coast, Mfantseman, Effutu), Ashanti (Kumasi Metro, Ashanti Akim Central, Ejisu Juabeng, Atwima Nwbiagya, Mampong), Upper East (Bolgatanga, Bawku, Bawku West, Kassena Nankane West, Kassena Nankane Municipality), Northern (Tamale, West Mamprusi, Savelugu, Yendi, Tolon) Upper West (Lawra, Sisala East, Wa Municipality, Jirapa, Nadowli)

Main Objectives

ADISS is a comprehensive anti-corruption programme that seeks to scale up the fight against corruption and strengthen citizen’s demand for accountability. ADISS’s purpose is to renew and build upon anti-corruption efforts and increase the capacities of anti-corruption Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to motivate citizens to apply pressure on policy makers and institutions with the aim of reducing corruption in Ghana. Overall, ADISS pursues two key objectives:

Promote a robust and effective legal framework that prevents and sanctions corruption
Improve civil society reporting, tracking and advocacy for stronger anti-corruption efforts.

Brief Summary

Over the past several decades Ghana has made significant progress towards a system of good governance with an eye on anti-corruption legislative measures. However, the adequacy and effectiveness of these anti-corruption laws and key institutions, crucial to the fight against corruption still remains a national challenge and therefore corruption continues to persist.

The set back in the implementation and enforcement of Ghana’s anti-corruption legislative framework remain a significant barrier to real progress in the fight against corruption. This is also partly due to capacity deficits along the advocacy chain, inhibiting the ability of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to deliver concrete results from otherwise important and effective grassroots and national initiatives.

It is this need for an innovative and coordinated approach to tackle corruption holistically that is the cornerstone of the ADISS project.

To achieve its objectives, the project has established and strengthened partnerships with major accountability actors in Ghana both from the public sector and from civil society. The project creates periodic opportunities for harmonization of efforts by institutions through expert forums and other multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Furthermore, ADISS empowers victims and witnesses of corruption to pursue their corruption related grievances through an Advocacy & Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) and to share their experience with bribery in Ghana using a web-based corruption reporting platform (www.ipaidabribe.org.gh). To further increase exposure of corruption, the Activity works to promote effective collaboration with the media. It has trained and is currently working with a selected group of investigative journalists who are interested in specializing in corruption reporting.

Results Achieved

Since its inception in September 2014, the project has built capacity of hundreds of Ghanaians throughout 50 districts in the 10 regions of Ghana. Some highlights include:

A total of 145 CSO representatives have received training on effective parliamentary lobbying and advocacy
A total of 141 CSO representatives have received training on using ICTs and social media for advocacy
Over 9,661 citizens were engaged through community durbars on the socio-cultural practices that hinder the fight against corruption

The GII Consortium was also the first to take the anti-corruption advocacy to the common Ghanaian citizen. In the course of 2016, GII facilitated the collection of a total of 3,440 signatures in a petition to Parliament lobbying for the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill.

Since the inception of the ADISS Consortium has engaged in broad advertising and public sensitization on the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) and the www.ipaidabribe.org.gh reporting platforms. It is estimated that at least 2 million Ghanaians have been reached through the jingles, brochures, media engagements and on social media. As a result of these and other interventions, corruption reporting is increasing albeit at a slow rate. In 2016, the ALAC received 39 complaints (complaint to 24 in 2015). Reports of bribery on the www.ipaidbribe.org.gh are also growing at a steady pace. As of February 2017, the platform has documented a total of 268 bribery reports.

The ADISS project has also generated and continues to generate new knowledge on the causes, impact and extent of corruption in Ghana. Some of the research (to be released in 2017) includes:

Existing gaps in Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Legislation
A district level survey on people’s experience and perception of corruption throughout Ghana
A study on the cost and impact of corruption in the health and education sectors
A study on the degree to which Ghana’s main accountability institutions are fulfilling their anti-corruption mandate
Various advocacy interventions are currently ongoing both at the national and the regional level all seeking to bring to the fore the enormity of the corruption challenge and the need to collectively fight to reduce if not totally r=eradicate it completely.

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Implemented jointly with Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) and SEND-Ghana

Main Objectives

Brief Summary

Results Achieved

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