Ghana reports rise in bribery as officials increasingly demand payments

A six‑monthly governance survey by the Ghana Statistical Service shows that 18 % of Ghanaians paid a bribe to obtain a public service in the second half of 2025, up from 14.3 % in the first half. The same period saw 69 % of respondents who encountered bribery say public officials demanded extra payments, an increase from 51 % earlier in the year.

Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu presented the findings, noting that while Ghana’s overall governance indicators improved compared with 2024, everyday experiences of corruption worsened. The survey, which interviews household heads across all 16 regions, was conducted in early 2026 and tracks changes within the year as well as longer‑term trends.