Ghanaian Citizens Face Increased Bribery Demands in Late 2025, GSS Reports
Despite Overall Governance Improvements, Corruption Pressures Rise in Second Half of the Year
- Nearly 70% of Ghanaians who encountered public officials in late 2025 were asked for unofficial payments.
- The demand for bribes by officials increased from 51% in the first half of 2025 to 69% in the second half.
- About one in six citizens paid bribes to access public services, despite Ghana’s overall governance improving in 2025.
A recent report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveals that nearly 70% of Ghanaians who encountered situations involving public officials in late 2025 were asked for unofficial payments.
Despite an overall improvement in Ghana’s governance indicators for 2025, citizens’ daily experiences with bribery worsened during the second half of the year.
The Governance Series report, presented at an event organized by Three Reports and the GSS on August 4, 2026, indicates a notable rise in corruption pressures, particularly from public officials. According to the data, the percentage of citizens reporting demands for extra payments from officials increased from 51% in the first half of 2025 to 69% in the latter half.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu explained, “The pressure now is more on citizens at the counter. The problem is less about what citizens offer and more about what officials ask for.” The survey also showed that the proportion of Ghanaians who paid bribes rose from 14.3% in the first half of 2025 to 18% in the second half, indicating that roughly one in six citizens paid bribes to access public services.
Despite these concerning trends, Dr. Iddrisu highlighted that Ghana’s overall governance performance improved compared to 2024. “The entire year of 2025 was better than 2024,” he stated, emphasizing the value of the six-monthly surveys in tracking ongoing trends and changes over time.
The survey was conducted with household heads across all 16 regions during the first quarter of 2026, focusing on experiences from July to December 2025. The data provides a clear picture of the evolving challenges in governance and corruption in Ghana.
