One in six Ghanaians who interacted with public officials in 2024 paid bribes to access services, according to a newly launched report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). The findings, published as part of the Governance Series Wave 1 Report, indicate that 18.4 per cent of individuals engaging public officials admitted to paying bribes, with the majority of such payments made in cash.

The study, conducted using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), surveyed 7,248 respondents across all 16 regions of Ghana. Of those surveyed, 55.7 per cent reported at least one contact with a public official between January and December 2024. The research forms part of Ghana’s monitoring efforts for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 16.5.1, which tracks the proportion of persons who paid or were asked to pay a bribe to a public official.

“This evidence must be used to drive reforms, empower citizens and ultimately reduce corruption in public service delivery,” said Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu. He described the findings as a “call to action” and urged policy-makers to respond with data-driven strategies.

The report unearthed significant disparities in bribery patterns based on gender, geography, employment status, and disability. Men accounted for a staggering 77.4 per cent of bribe-payers, compared to 22.6 per cent for women. Urban residents were also more likely to pay bribes, with 61.9 per cent of incidents occurring in towns and cities, while rural areas accounted for 38.1 per cent.

Age was also a determining factor, with the highest bribe payments recorded among persons aged 35 to 49 years. Education level played a role as well, with individuals possessing tertiary or junior high school qualifications among the most likely to pay bribes.

A particularly troubling finding was the burden of bribery on the unemployed. While the employed constituted the majority of those who paid bribes (75.6 per cent), 22.4 per cent of unemployed respondents reported paying over GH¢1,000 in bribes, raising questions about the economic and moral cost of corruption for vulnerable populations.

Among persons with disabilities, around 21 per cent reported paying bribes. The rate was significantly higher among those with physical impairments (40.1 per cent) and visual impairments (32.5 per cent).

The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service recorded the highest rate of bribery among public institutions. Sixty per cent of those who dealt with MTTD officials said they paid bribes. Other notable mentions included general duties police (46.7 per cent), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the police (37.9 per cent), and city guards (34.4 per cent). In contrast, the Minerals Commission had no reported bribery cases, and foreign embassies or consulates recorded only 2.6 per cent.

Regionally, Greater Accra led in reported bribery cases (22 per cent), followed by the Ashanti Region (18.1 per cent). The Savannah and North East Regions reported the lowest incidence, at 1.0 per cent and 1.1 per cent respectively.

Cash was the most common form of bribery, accounting for 85.2 per cent of reported cases. Other forms included food, drinks, animals (9 per cent), and the exchange of services (4.4 per cent). Approximately one-third of respondents said they paid between GH¢101 and GH¢500, while 14 per cent paid more than GH¢1,000. Males and urban residents were more likely to pay higher amounts.

Notably, 74.9 per cent of bribes were directly solicited by public officials, either personally or through intermediaries. Meanwhile, 17.3 per cent of respondents indicated that they gave bribes voluntarily to expedite processes or express gratitude. Yet only 14.5 per cent of incidents were formally reported, with reporting rates higher among urban dwellers.

The GSS says the Governance Series will be conducted bi-annually to monitor changes over time. The next wave will revisit the same respondents after six months, with findings expected to feed into Ghana’s third Voluntary National Review of the SDGs in July 2025.