Government has noted an extremely misleading story published by myjoyonline.com and broadcast on Joy FM in which they claim that a Gallup poll conducted in 129 countries with Free Press in 2012, ranked Ghana as the third most corrupt country.

This story is also repeated on several online portals.

A thorough study of the Gallup poll shows that nowhere is it suggested that Ghana is the third most corrupt country among the 129 countries in which the poll was conducted. In fact Ghana ranks much lower than the underlisted countries who are all featured in the poll:

Tanzania- (95%)

Czech Republic- (94%)

Kenya-(93%)

Nigeria -(92%)

Chad - (92%)

Greece -(92%)

Uganda- (91%)

Kosovo -(90%)

Ghana obtained the same score as Cameroon and Bosnia Herzegovina.

It is also inaccurate for Joy FM to claim that the Gallup poll was conducted in 129 “Free Press” countries. According to the report on the poll put out by Gallup, the 129 countries were put in three categories namely, “Free Press” Countries, "Partly Free” Press countries and “Not Free Press Countries.

Government notes with satisfaction that Ghana was classified in the “Free press” Countries category alongside established democracies like the United States of America, Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Australia and Norway -a development which Gallup acknowledges as an “indicator of good governance and development”. Ghana was also one of only two countries in Africa to be classified as “Free Press” countries, the other being South Africa.

While government encourages media organizations to take advantage of the unfettered media freedom that exists in the country, it also wishes to admonish them to ensure that truth, accuracy, balance and professionalism are adhered to in their work.

Doing so will avert the churning out of clearly misleading reports like the one under reference.

As far as corruption itself is concerned, government wishes to assure Ghanaians that it has taken steps to intensify the fight against the canker and remains committed to running an open, transparent and accountable government.

FELIX KWAKYE OFOSU DEPUTY MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS (October 31^,2013)