Omanghana
The Ghana Statistical Service has called for the rapid digitalization of public services and greater transparency in official fees following a sharp increase in reported bribery demands across the country.
The recommendation follows the release of Wave 3 of the GSS Governance Series, which indicates that citizens faced growing pressure to make unofficial payments during the second half of 2025.
Deputy Government Statistician Omar Seidu and Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu said reducing direct contact between citizens and public officials would help eliminate opportunities for extortion and other corrupt practices.
According to the survey, the proportion of respondents who said public officials directly demanded bribes increased from 51% during the first half of 2025 to 69% between July and December.
The percentage of citizens who admitted paying an unofficial bribe also rose from 14.3% to 18% over the same period.
Police units recorded some of the highest bribery risks among the institutions covered by the survey. The Motor Traffic and Transport Department topped the list with a rate of 54.6%, followed by Police General Duties at 37.4% and the Criminal Investigation Department at 29.5%.
Cash remained the most common form of payment, accounting for 94.8% of all reported bribes. However, the survey found that the use of valuables including land, goods and other assets doubled during the year.
The Statistical Service identified digitalization as one of the most effective ways to reduce corruption in public service delivery. Moving applications, payments and approvals online would limit the discretion available to officials and create verifiable records of transactions.
The Passport Office was cited as a successful example. According to the GSS, moving significant portions of the application process online reduced opportunities for officials or intermediaries to demand unofficial payments.
The Service also urged government institutions to publish their approved fees and clearly explain the steps required to access public services. It noted that citizens who do not know the official cost of a service are more vulnerable to inflated charges and extortion.
Public education was recommended as another essential part of the response. State agencies were encouraged to inform citizens about services that should be provided free of charge and explain where suspected bribery or extortion can be reported.
The GSS said combining digital platforms, transparent charges and stronger public awareness could reduce direct bribery demands while improving accountability across public institutions.
Source: Omanghana
