18.4% of Ghanaians Paid Bribes to Access Public Services in 2024, GSS Reveals

18.4% of Ghanaians Paid Bribes to Access Public Services in 2024 – GSS Report

A recent report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that 18.4% of Ghanaians who engaged with public officials in 2024 paid bribes, mostly in cash, to access essential services. The findings, contained in the Governance Series Wave 1 Report, highlight the persistence of corruption in public institutions and the daily struggles many citizens face when dealing with state agencies.

The report also found that a large portion of the population feels sidelined in national governance. About 70% of those surveyed believe they have little or no influence over decisions made by government leaders. This perceived lack of inclusion may be contributing to the public’s acceptance of informal payments as the only way to receive attention or results.

Further breakdowns of the data show that bribery was more common among men, who accounted for 68.3% of the reported cases, compared to 31.7% for women. Urban areas recorded more incidents, with 64.3% of bribery cases occurring in cities, as against 35.7% in rural communities. This trend may be due to increased demand for public services in urban centres or greater interaction between residents and public officials.

The situation was also troubling for persons living with disabilities. About 21.1% of them reported paying bribes in 2024. Among this group, people with physical impairments faced the highest rate of bribery at 40.1%, followed by individuals with visual impairments at 32.5%. This raises concerns about equal access to services and the level of support available for vulnerable populations.

Regionally, Greater Accra had the highest reported bribery rate at 22.0%, followed by the Ashanti Region at 18.1%. The Savannah and North East regions recorded the lowest figures at 1.0% and 1.1% respectively. These differences may reflect regional variations in infrastructure, access to services, or the presence of strong oversight mechanisms.

Omar Seidu, Head of Social Statistics at the GSS, called for immediate structural reforms and stronger anti-corruption measures. He noted that rebuilding public trust requires more than policy statements, it demands action that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and citizen involvement in governance. The report is expected to guide both policymakers and civil society in shaping strategies to reduce corruption and promote fair access to public services.