1 in 6 Ghanaians Paid Bribes to Access Public Services in 2024 – GSS Report Uncovers Deepening Corruption Crisis

A new report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed a troubling trend in public service delivery—one in six Ghanaians (18.4%) who interacted with public officials in 2024 paid a bribe, mostly in cash, to access basic services.

The findings, released in the Governance Series Wave 1 Report, provide critical insight into Ghana’s ongoing battle against public sector corruption and contribute to tracking progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.5.1, which monitors bribery incidences.

Urban Residents and Educated Citizens Among Top Bribe Payers

The report, based on a nationwide survey of 7,248 participants across all 16 regions, highlights a higher prevalence of bribery in urban areas (61.9%) compared to rural zones (38.1%). Ghanaians aged 35–49 years were the most likely to pay bribes, accounting for 43% of all reported cases.

Interestingly, individuals with tertiary education and those employed were among the leading groups engaged in bribery. The economic toll of corruption was also evident, as 22.4% of unemployed respondents admitted to paying bribes over GH¢1,000, underscoring the burden on jobseekers and vulnerable citizens.

Gender and Disability Disparities

The report reveals significant gender disparities: 77.4% of bribe givers were men, while only 22.6% were women. Meanwhile, 21% of persons with disabilities reported paying bribes—most notably those with physical (40.1%) and visual (32.5%) impairments.

Police Top the List of Most Corrupt Institutions

Topping the corruption chart is the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), with a staggering 60% of those who engaged with MTTD officers admitting to paying bribes. Other heavily implicated institutions include:

• General Duties Police – 46.7%

• Criminal Investigations Department (CID) – 37.9%

• City Guards – 34.4%

In contrast, the Minerals Commission recorded zero bribery cases, while foreign embassies and consulates had a minimal incidence of 2.6%.

Regional Breakdown: Accra and Ashanti Lead in Corruption

Bribery is most prevalent in Greater Accra (22%) and Ashanti (18.1%) regions. At the opposite end, Savannah (1%) and North East (1.1%) regions had the lowest reported bribery cases.

Cash Still King in Bribe Transactions

Cash accounted for 85.2% of all bribes, far outweighing other forms such as:

• Food, drinks, and livestock – 9%

• Exchange of services – 4.4%

About 33% of respondents paid between GH¢101 and GH¢500, while 14% paid over GH¢1,000, with men and urban residents making the highest payments.

How Bribes Are Initiated—and Why Few Are Reported

A significant 74.9% of bribes were initiated by public officials, either directly or through intermediaries. Meanwhile, 17.3% were voluntarily offered by citizens to fast-track services or show appreciation.

Shockingly, only 14.5% of incidents were officially reported, with urban dwellers more likely to file complaints, pointing to gaps in trust and access to effective redress mechanisms.

A Wake-Up Call for Reform and Accountability

Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, called the findings a “call to action”, urging policymakers to use data to inform reforms and empower citizens.

“This evidence must be used to drive reforms, empower citizens, and ultimately reduce corruption in public service delivery,” he stated.

The Governance Series will be conducted every two years, with findings feeding into Ghana’s third Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the SDGs set for July 2025.