The recently released Governance Series Wave 1 Report sheds light on the prevalence of bribery in Ghana. According to the report, 18.4% of individuals who interacted with public officials in 2024 admitted to paying bribes, predominantly in cash.
This report is part of Ghana’s initiative to track progress towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 16.5.1, which measures the percentage of the population that has paid or been asked to pay a bribe to a public official.
The nationwide survey, conducted via Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), included 7,248 participants from all 16 regions of Ghana. More than half of the respondents (55.7%) confirmed interacting with public officials during the year.
The study revealed significant disparities in bribery trends based on gender, age, and location. Men accounted for 77.4% of bribe payers, while women made up only 22.6%. Urban areas were identified as hotspots for bribery, with 61.9% of cases occurring in cities compared to 38.1% in rural areas. The 35-49 age group accounted for approximately 43% of all bribes paid.
Individuals with tertiary and junior high school education reported the highest rates of bribery, and employed individuals constituted 75.6% of bribe payers. Surprisingly, 22.4% of unemployed individuals reported paying bribes exceeding GH¢1,000, highlighting the economic burden corruption places on job seekers and vulnerable populations.
Among persons with disabilities, approximately 21% reported engaging in bribery, with higher rates observed among those with physical and visual impairments.
The report also highlighted the most corrupt institutions, with the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) topping the list. Other corrupt institutions included General duties police officers, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and city guards.
Regionally, Greater Accra and Ashanti recorded the highest bribery rates, while Savannah and North East regions reported the lowest incidences. Cash remained the most common form of bribe, accounting for 85.2% of reported gifts.
Public officials initiated 74.9% of bribes, while only 14.5% of incidents were reported to the authorities. Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu emphasized the importance of using this evidence to drive reforms and reduce corruption in public service delivery.
The Governance Series will be conducted bi-annually to monitor governance experiences and support Ghana’s third Voluntary National Review of the SDGs in July 2025.
