A new report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that 18.4% of Ghanaians who interacted with public officials in 2024 paid bribes mostly in the form of cash to access essential services.

The findings, part of GSS’s latest report on governance, exposed the persistent nature of corruption in public institutions.

Titled “Governance Series Wave 1 Report by Ghana Statistical Service”, the report highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with citizen engagement in governance, with 70% of respondents saying the current system offers little or no space for the public to influence decision-making.

Bribery was more prevalent among men, who accounted for 68.3% of those who admitted to giving gifts or money to public officials, compared to 31.7% among women.

Urban residents were also more likely to pay bribes, representing 64.3% of reported cases, as opposed to 35.7% among rural dwellers.

Persons living with disabilities were not exempt from the trend. An estimated 21.1% reported paying bribes, with those having physical impairments recording the highest rate at 40.1%, followed by individuals with visual impairments at 32.5%.

At the regional level, Greater Accra recorded the highest incidence of bribery at 22.0%, closely followed by the Ashanti Region with 18.1%.

In stark contrast, the Savannah and North East regions reported the lowest rates, at just 1.0% and 1.1% respectively.

The Head of Social Statistics at the GSS, Omar Seidu, emphasized the urgent need for structural reforms and stronger anti-corruption measures to rebuild public trust in state institutions.

"The data points to a worrying disconnect between citizens and the institutions meant to serve them. Reducing corruption is not just a legal obligation it’s a social imperative," Seidu stated.

The GSS report serves as a critical tool for policymakers, civil society, and the general public in the fight against corruption and in efforts to create a more inclusive and accountable governance system in Ghana.