GSS Report: Bribery Prevalence Falls Sharply from 18.4% to 14.3%
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician- Photo credit GSS
Accra, November 18, 2025 — Ghana’s overall bribery prevalence fell from 18.4% to 14.3%. This was disclosed by Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, at the launch of the Governance Series Wave 2 Report to mark the 2025 African Statistics Day celebration in Accra. This indicates significant progress in reducing bribery and improving public inclusion in governance, although the new national data reveal persistent challenges that require sustained reform.
Speaking on the theme: “Leveraging Innovations in Data and Statistics to Promote a Just, Peaceful, Inclusive and Prosperous Society for Africans”, Dr. Iddrisu stressed that national development cannot be achieved without reliable data. He noted that statistics serve not just as a mirror of society but as the foundation for decision-making that fosters justice, peace, and prosperity. Presenting findings from the latest wave of the Governance Series survey, which was conducted between July and August 2025, the Government Statistician highlighted a mixed picture on corruption.
“Governance is not only about laws and institutions. It is about how people actually experience the system,” he said. “Are they treated fairly? Are their voices heard? Do they have to pay extra to get what they are entitled to? Until recently, we could only guess the answers. Now, we have data.”
On Bribery and Corruption (SDG 16.5.1): Fewer People Bribing, But More Often. The proportion of people who gave bribes five times or more rose sharply from 6.9% to 24%, indicating that while fewer citizens are bribing, those who do are engaging more frequently. Direct solicitation of bribes from officials dropped from 51.3% to 38.6%, though voluntary “appreciation” gifts nearly doubled. The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) remains the most frequently named institution in bribery incidents, though its share dropped from 61% to 51.9%.
Dr. Iddrisu noted that reporting of bribery cases has declined, suggesting growing public skepticism about the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms.
On inclusiveness and responsiveness (SDG 16.7), the survey reported that: the share of citizens who feel they have a say in political decision-making rose from 54.8% to 68.4%. Those feeling fully excluded from the political system fell from 42.4% to 29.2%. Youth exclusion dropped significantly, from 56.1% in the previous survey to 36.3%. Persons with disabilities also reported higher inclusion, with exclusion dropping from 47.4% to 27.2%.
Despite this progress, Northern, North East, and Upper East regions reported the highest rates of exclusion, underlining the need for region-specific engagement strategies.
When asked about their top priorities for government action over the next six months, 52.6% of respondents called for improved infrastructure and public services, including roads, utilities, and health facilities. Another 25.9% prioritized economic stability and employment creation.
Dr. Iddrisu stressed that while data points to progress, “some groups and regions remain far behind. The work is not finished.”
Calls for Reform and Data Usage
The Statistician highlighted five priority areas for action:
1. Strengthen accountability and anti-corruption frameworks.
2. Deepen civic engagement and participatory governance.
3. Build transparency and integrity into public services.
4. Target reforms toward marginalized regions and groups.
5. Leverage digital tools and data-driven innovation in governance.
“Evidence must guide reforms, shape advocacy, and inform debate,” he warned, urging ministries, civil society, researchers, and the media to actively use the data.
He acknowledged the collaboration of institutions including CHRAJ, the German Development Cooperation’s Paired programme, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, and others. The Wave 2 survey, conducted using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) and census data, is a further step toward modern data collection in Ghana.
Dr. Iddrisu concluded with a call for Africa to embrace innovation in statistics to transform lives, not just processes.
“If we want peace, justice, inclusion, and prosperity, then we must treat statistics as the language of development,” he said.
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