Ghana sees rise in bribery incidents in second half of 2025

The incidence of bribery in Ghana saw an increase in the latter half of 2025, according to the latest Governance Series report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

During the period from July to December 2025, 18.0% of household heads who interacted with public officials reported paying money or giving gifts. This marks a rise from the 14.3% recorded in the first six months of the year, translating to an estimated 1.7 million people paying bribes, up from 1.3 million earlier in the year.

The GSS report, launched in Accra, also indicated a significant increase in requests for unofficial payments by public officials, jumping from 50.9% in the previous period to 69.4%. Despite this, the proportion of citizens who refused to pay bribes also rose, from 3.0% to 4.9%.

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good governance was reflected in the everyday experiences of citizens when accessing public services.

While bribery became more prevalent, the report noted a significant reduction in repeat payments, suggesting that many incidents were isolated. The Police Service, particularly its Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), was identified as the institution most frequently associated with demands for unofficial payments.

Overall, for the full year 2025, the proportion of Ghanaians paying bribes slightly declined to 16.8% compared to 18.4% in 2024, even as interactions with public institutions increased. The GSS defines bribery as any exchange of money, gifts, or favors that violates legal or ethical duties. The report aims to provide evidence on bribery to support Ghana's implementation of SDG 16, focusing on peace, justice, and strong institutions.

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The Governance Series was designed to generate credible evidence on bribery and inclusive governance to support Ghana’s implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.