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Business Insider
29-05-2025
- Business Insider
One in six Ghanaians paid bribes to access public services in 2024
One in six Ghanaians who interacted with public officials in 2024 admitted to paying a bribe to access public services, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has disclosed. 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.
Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana's economic recovery continues thanks to the world's best currency
The decline in import expenses brought down the country's consumer price index in April to 21.2%, compared to 22.4% the month before, making it the fourth consecutive month Ghana's inflation is dropping. Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu made this known to reporters in the capital, Accra, on Wednesday. He noted that, rise in non-food prices slowed to 17.9% in April from 18.7% in March, as import costs fell. This drop in inflation is following a pattern that has been persistent since the current president John Mahama assumed office. In March, inflation figures dropped to 22.4% from 23.1% in February, as per data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). Then the decline in inflation came shortly after the Bank of Ghana (BoG) made an unexpected decision to raise its benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points to 28%. However, for April, reports indicate that the country's impressive currency performance is primarily the reason for the inflation decline. In April the Tunisian Dinar, Moroccan Dirham, Seychellois Rupee, and Ghanaian Cedi, posted stronger values than the month prior. Ghana's currency had gone from 15.49 per dollar in March to 15.46 per dollar, in April. Inflation in Ghana and interest rates According to figures provided by Bloomberg, the currency has risen about sixteen percent versus the dollar since the beginning of April, making it the best-performing currency globally. Agyapomaa Gyeke-Dako, a senior lecturer and economist at the University of Ghana Business School, assessed that the data is unlikely to convince the central bank to cut interest rates later this month because it is still looking for additional proof of a slowdown in price growth following its unexpected 100 basis-point increase in March to 28%. In order to "mop up any excess liquidity, the central bank action going forward may not readily reduce the monetary policy rate yet because there might still be some threats to inflation coming from the hikes in utility prices," she stated prior to the data release, implying that it tightened at its most recent meeting. Inflation in Ghana remained above 10%, exceeding the central bank's target range, since September 2021, driven by a debt crisis that weakened the cedi and raised the cost of imports.
Zawya
02-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
President Mahama Swears In Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu as Government Statistician
Dr. Iddrisu outlined a bold vision for the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), committing to build a modern, technology-driven, agile, and trusted institution capable of producing credible, timely, and relevant data to support Ghana's macroeconomic stabilisation programme and socio-economic development initiatives. Key among his priorities is the fast-tracking of the rebasing of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to improve the quality of inflation data and extending CPI reporting to the district level to support government's decentralisation agenda. He also pledged to produce inflation data on a rural-urban basis to capture price dynamics across different parts of the country. On economic data, Dr. Iddrisu announced plans to rebase Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every five years, a significant improvement on the current ten-year cycle, and begin producing regional GDP figures to inform local policy decisions. Additionally, he hinted at the introduction of Monthly Indicators of Economic Growth (MIEG) to complement the Bank of Ghana's Composite Index of Economic Activities (CIEA). Addressing employment statistics, Dr. Iddrisu revealed plans to regularise the production of quarterly employment and unemployment data to better track labour market trends, job creation under government flagship programmes, and youth unemployment rates. 'With the enduring support of the President, the Honourable Finance Minister, our development partners, and the good people of Ghana, I am committed to working with the exceptional team at GSS to position our Service as a world-class institution and a trusted pillar in Ghana's development journey,' Dr. Iddrisu affirmed. Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, a seasoned economist and statistician, brings to the role extensive experience in macroeconomic management, public policy, and data analysis. His appointment marks a new chapter for the Ghana Statistical Service as it seeks to reposition itself as a beacon of excellence and a driver of national development through evidence-based decision-making. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance - Republic of Ghana.
