One in six Ghanaians paid bribes to access public services in 2024
18.4% of Ghanaians who interacted with public officials in 2024 reported paying bribes, with cash being the most common form.
The survey, which involved 7,248 participants nationwide, identified urban regions and the ages 35–49 as hotspots for bribery incidences.
Among those paying bribes, individuals with higher education levels and employment status were prominent contributors.
According to the newly launched Governance Series Wave 1 Report, 18.4% of respondents who dealt with public officials during the year reported giving bribes—most commonly in cash.
The report forms part of Ghana's ongoing efforts to track progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 16.5.1, which measures the proportion of the population who paid or were asked to pay a bribe to a public official.
The nationwide survey, conducted through Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI), sampled 7,248 individuals across all 16 regions. Over half of the participants (55.7%) confirmed they had interacted with at least one public official from January to December 2024.
Bribery patterns by gender, age, and location
The study identified stark disparities in bribery trends. Men accounted for a staggering 77.4% of those who paid bribes, while women made up only 22.6%.
Urban areas also emerged as bribery hotspots, with 61.9% of bribery cases recorded in cities compared to 38.1% in rural areas. The most affected age group was 35–49 years, representing approximately 43% of all bribes paid.
Individuals with tertiary and junior high school (JHS)/middle-level education recorded the highest rates of bribe payments, and employed persons made up the bulk of those involved (75.6%).
Surprisingly, 22.4% of unemployed individuals reported paying bribes exceeding GH¢1,000, underlining the steep economic burden corruption places on jobseekers and vulnerable populations.
Among persons living with disabilities, about 21% reported engaging in bribery, with the highest rates observed among those with physical (40.1%) and visual (32.5%) impairments.
Police top the list of most corrupt institutions
The Ghana Police Service's Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) emerged as the most corrupt institution, with six out of ten individuals who interacted with the MTTD admitting to paying bribes.
Other top-ranking institutions included:
General duties police officers – 46.7%
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) – 37.9%
City guards – 34.4%
At the other end of the spectrum, the Minerals Commission recorded zero bribery incidents, while only 2.6% of respondents cited bribe-related encounters with foreign embassies or consulates.
Regionally, Greater Accra (22%) and Ashanti (18.1%) recorded the highest levels of bribery. In contrast, Savannah (1%) and North East (1.1%) regions reported the lowest incidences.
What bribes look Like: cash still dominates
Cash remained the most common form of bribe, accounting for 85.2% of all reported gifts. Other bribe forms included:
Food, drinks, animals – 9%
Exchange of services – 4.4%
Bribe amounts varied, with:
One-third paying between GH¢101 and GH¢500
14% paying over GH¢1,000
More men (15.6%) than women (10.8%) reported paying bribes above GH¢1,000. Urban dwellers paid more frequently and in higher amounts than rural residents, with Greater Accra leading in high-value bribes.
How bribes were Initiated – and why they go unreported
Public officials were responsible for initiating 74.9% of bribes—either directly or through intermediaries. Another 17.3% of individuals gave bribes voluntarily, either to speed up processes or as a show of gratitude.
However, only 14.5% of bribery incidents were reported to the appropriate authorities. Urban residents were more likely to report than their rural counterparts, reflecting both access and confidence in anti-corruption channels.
A call to action for reforms
Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu described the findings as a 'call to action', urging decision-makers to develop policies grounded in data.
'This evidence must be used to drive reforms, empower citizens and ultimately reduce corruption in public service delivery,' he stated.
The Governance Series, which will be conducted bi-annually, aims to monitor changes in governance experiences. These findings will also support Ghana's third Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the SDGs, scheduled for July 2025.
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