A staggering 18.4% of Ghanaians who engaged with public officials in 2024 admitted to paying bribes, according to a new report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The findings, part of the GSS Governance Series Wave 1 Report, provide a sobering snapshot of the persistence of bribery across public institutions and raise urgent questions about accountability and equitable access to public services.
“This evidence must be used to drive reforms, empower citizens and ultimately reduce corruption in public service delivery,” said Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, describing the report as a “call to action” for data-driven policy interventions.
Bribery Prevalent in Urban Areas and Among Men
The study, which surveyed 7,248 respondents across all 16 regions using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), revealed that men and urban residents were more likely to be involved in bribery. Of all those who admitted to paying bribes, 77.4% were men, and 61.9% lived in urban areas, compared to 22.6% women and 38.1% rural dwellers.
The age group most affected ranged from 35 to 49 years, and those with tertiary or junior high school education were statistically more likely to engage in bribery.
Unemployed and Disabled Citizens Face Deep Inequities
A particularly disturbing insight was the high economic burden on unemployed individuals, with 22.4% of unemployed respondents reporting that they paid over GH¢1,000 in bribes. The findings cast a harsh light on the moral and economic strain corruption places on vulnerable groups.
Additionally, the report highlights that 21% of persons with disabilities (PWDs) reported paying bribes. The situation is even more critical for those with physical impairments (40.1%) and visual impairments (32.5%), underscoring the urgency of reform in disability-inclusive governance.
Police Departments Top the List of Corrupt Institutions
Among public institutions, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service recorded the highest bribery rate, with 60% of respondents who interacted with its officials confirming they had paid a bribe. Other units of the Police Service followed closely, including General Duties Police (46.7%), the Criminal Investigations Department (37.9%), and City Guards (34.4%).
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In contrast, institutions such as the Minerals Commission reported no bribery incidents, and foreign embassies or consulates had a low rate of 2.6%.
Cash Remains the Dominant Medium of Bribery
The overwhelming majority of bribes were paid in cash (85.2%), followed by food, drinks, and animals (9%), and services exchanged (4.4%). Most payments fell between GH¢101 and GH¢500, while 14% of respondents claimed to have paid bribes exceeding GH¢1,000.
The report also revealed that in nearly 75% of cases, the bribes were explicitly solicited by officials or their intermediaries. Only 17.3% of individuals claimed to have paid bribes voluntarily, often to expedite service delivery or to express gratitude.
Low Reporting Rates Signal Systemic Challenges
Despite the widespread nature of bribery, only 14.5% of cases were officially reported, with urban residents more likely to take action than their rural counterparts. This low reporting rate, analysts say, reflects a combination of fear of retaliation, distrust in enforcement systems, and cultural normalization of bribery.
Regional Disparities in Bribery Rates
Regionally, Greater Accra recorded the highest incidence of bribery at 22%, followed by the Ashanti Region (18.1%). On the opposite end of the spectrum, Savannah (1.0%) and North East (1.1%) Regions reported the lowest levels.
Future Monitoring and SDG Alignment
The Governance Series will be conducted bi-annually, with the next wave expected to revisit the same respondents in six months. Findings will directly inform Ghana’s third Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in July 2025, specifically Indicator 16.5.1, which tracks the prevalence of bribery.
As Ghana continues its efforts to improve governance and combat corruption, the latest report serves as both a wake-up call and an opportunity for reform—but only if matched with decisive, accountable action at all levels of public service.
