Accra: Public officials in Ghana demanded bribes more frequently in 2025, yet fewer Ghanaians succumbed to these demands, as revealed by the latest Governance Series survey. The survey indicated a decline in the proportion of citizens paying bribes, despite increased interactions with public institutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, presented these findings during the launch of the third wave of the Ghana Statistical Service's (GSS) Governance Series in Accra. The report, covering July to December 2025, complements previous findings and compares governance indicators with those from 2024.
The survey highlighted an increase in the refusal to pay bribes, with the proportion rising from three percent in the second wave to 4.9 percent in the third wave. However, the demand for bribes surged from 51 percent to 69 percent during the same period, and the percentage of citizens who paid bribes rose from 14.3 percent to 18 percent.
Year-on-year comparisons showed a significant increase in interactions between citizens and public officials, rising from 56 percent in 2024 to 72 percent in 2025. This represents approximately 1.6 million additional people accessing public services. Despite this, the proportion of citizens paying bribes decreased from 18.4 percent in 2024 to 16.8 percent in 2025, and payments exceeding GHS1,000 fell from 14.7 percent to 7.6 percent.
Dr. Iddrisu explained that the survey tracked the same panel of respondents from the 2021 Population and Housing Census, allowing the Ghana Statistical Service to measure changes over time using a consistent sample. He noted that while the survey did not explore the reasons behind citizens' refusal to pay bribes, it might be influenced by government engagement with institutions identified in earlier findings.
Following the second-wave results, the Office of the Chief of Staff invited the Ghana Statistical Service to a sensitisation session, leading to further engagements with the 10 institutions with the highest bribery incidence and those with better performance. These institutions shared experiences and developed action plans, including digitising processes to reduce bribery opportunities.
Dr. Iddrisu highlighted the importance of sustaining these efforts, emphasizing that the fight against corruption is ongoing. He advocated for greater digitisation of public services to reduce direct contact between officials and citizens, which increases the likelihood of bribery. Additionally, he called for stronger protection for citizens refusing to pay bribes and greater transparency in decision-making processes, including budgeting.
Mrs. Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, praised citizens who refused to pay bribes, attributing the trend partly to public sensitisation campaigns, including initiatives by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. She expressed concern over the concentration of corruption in frontline institutions like health facilities and public schools, which impacts those unable to afford private alternatives.
Mrs. Narteh warned of long-term risks associated with youth disengagement, citing unrest related to youth alienation in parts of West Africa. She cautioned that the exclusion of young people, older persons, and persons with disabilities from governance processes could exacerbate these issues.