One in six persons who engaged public officials in 2024 paid bribes to access public services

One in six persons who engaged public officials in 2024 paid bribes to access public services, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed in its newly launched Governance Series Wave 1 Report.

The study found that 18.4 percent of individuals who interacted with public officials within the year under review paid bribes, predominantly in the form of cash.

According to GSS, the study forms part of efforts to monitor Ghana’s performance on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 16.5.1 which tracks the proportion of persons who paid or were asked to pay a bribe to a public official.

Conducted using a Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) model, the survey reached 7,248 respondents across all 16 regions. Of those surveyed, 55.7 percent had at least one contact with a public official in the reference period from January to December 2024.

Bribery patterns by demographics

GSS data highlight troubling disparities in the distribution of bribe-giving as males accounted for 77.4 percent of those who paid bribes, with females constituting 22.6 percent.

Meanwhile, bribery was more prevalent in urban areas (61.9 percent) than in rural areas (38.1 percent).

In terms of age, the highest incidence of gift-giving occurred among persons aged 35 to 49 years – accounting for about 43 percent of all bribes paid. The trend was similar across education levels, with individuals possessing tertiary and JHS/middle-level education recording the highest figures.

The employed made up the bulk (75.6 percent) of those who gave bribes, but notably, 22.4 percent of unemployed persons reported paying over GH¢1,000 as bribes, revealing the economic burden corruption imposes on even the jobless.

Among persons with disabilities, approximately 21 percent reported paying bribes, with significantly higher rates among individuals with physical impairments (40.1%) and visual impairments (32.5 percent)

Institutional and regional trends

Institutional analysis revealed that the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service recorded the highest bribe prevalence, with six in ten people who interacted with MTTD officials reporting they paid bribes. Other top-ranking institutions include general duties police (46.7 percent), police CID (37.9 percent) and city guards (34.4 percent).

On the flipside, the Minerals Commission recorded no reported cases of bribery and foreign embassies or consulates had just 2.6 percent of respondents reporting bribe-related interactions.

Geographically, Greater Accra (22 percent) and Ashanti Region (18.1 percent) had the highest incidences of bribery, while Savannah (1.0 percent) and North East (1.1 percent) reported the lowest.

Nature of bribes

Money remained the most dominant form of bribe, making up 85.2 percent of all gifts. Other items included food, drinks, animals (9 percent) and exchange of services (4.4 percent).

The amounts paid varied widely: about one-third paid between GH¢101 – GH¢500 and 14% paid more than GH¢1,000.

More males (15.6 percent) than females (10.8 percent) reported paying over GH¢1,000. Similarly, urban residents paid more bribes than their rural counterparts. The Greater Accra Region again topped the chart for highest bribes paid.

A striking 74.9 percent of bribes were directly requested by public officials, either personally or through a third party. About 17.3 percent of respondents gave bribes voluntarily, either to facilitate the process or out of appreciation.

Yet only 14.5 percent of bribe incidents were reported to anti-corruption institutions, with urban dwellers more likely to report than rural residents.

Next steps

According to GSS, the first wave serves as a baseline for tracking governance-related experiences over time.

According to Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, the report is a “call to action” and reflects the need for policies rooted in robust data.

“This evidence must be used to drive reforms, empower citizens and ultimately reduce corruption in public service delivery,” he stated.

The bi-annual Governance Series will follow up with the same respondents every six months to assess progress. The findings will also inform Ghana’s third Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the SDGs scheduled for July 2025.

Samuel Abu Jinapor

The Minority in Parliament says it will summon the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to appear before the House to explain the controversial closure of Ghana’s embassy in Washington, D.C., following allegations of visa fraud.

Speaking at a press conference on behalf of the Minority, Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, described the minister’s actions as rash, undiplomatic, and damaging to Ghana’s international image.

He accused the Foreign Minister of grandstanding and rushing to social media and the press without first consulting Parliament or following proper diplomatic procedures.

“We, the Minority, will file a question on the floor of Parliament for the Minister to come and explain the circumstances surrounding this matter,” Mr. Jinapor said and added, “We fully support disciplinary action against anyone found guilty of wrongdoing, but this must be done with tact and within the bounds of diplomacy.”

Populism Over Diplomacy

The Minority expressed grave concern about what it called the minister’s “populist posturing” in handling a matter with serious diplomatic implications.

Mr. Jinapor, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, argued that the closure of the embassy, Ghana’s key diplomatic outpost in the United States, was not only excessive but also cast a shadow over the entire Foreign Service and Ghana’s credibility abroad.

“This is not the first time an embassy staff anywhere in the world has been accused of misconduct. These matters are often resolved behind closed doors with quiet, tactful diplomacy, not public sensationalism,” he said.

The Minority said it was “utterly shocked and surprised” when it learned from media reports that the Washington mission had been closed, allegedly due to the actions of a single staff member accused of engaging in fraudulent activities.

“Not everyone in the mission is involved in fraud,” Mr. Jinapor stressed, quizzing, “So why paint the entire mission with one broad brush?”

He called the minister’s public announcements “unnecessary grandstanding” that undermines Ghana’s international reputation and sends the wrong signal to citizens and foreign partners alike.

Engagement with Parliament

Mr. Jinapor also criticised the minister’s failure to consult the Foreign Affairs Committee before making such a far-reaching decision. He urged the ministry to improve its engagement with Parliament going forward.

“We’ve engaged the chairman of the committee, and even some Majority members admit they were unaware of the Minister’s decision,” he revealed. “This cannot continue.”

The Minority believes the Foreign Minister must learn to distinguish between opposition activism and government diplomacy, especially now that he holds one of the most sensitive portfolios in the executive branch.

“President Mahama has only been in office for a few months, and perhaps some are still adjusting from the opposition style of politics,” Mr. Jinapor said, adding, “But foreign policy requires restraint, tact, and maturity.”

Broader Concerns

The press conference also touched on other issues plaguing the Foreign Ministry, including controversies over passport processing times, the rollout of chip-embedded passports, and service delivery at embassies.

MP Jinapor called on the minister to raise Ghana’s flag on the global stage rather than “lower it with poor judgment.”

“We want the Minister to take a step back, engage Parliament more, and conduct Ghana’s foreign policy in a way that enhances – not tarnishes – our image,” he intimated.

The Minority urged the minister to appear before Parliament as soon as possible, and pledged to pursue answers through formal parliamentary procedures if necessary.

By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House

The government has given approval to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to procure 200 new transformers to beef up the transmission and distribution of power to major cities in the country.

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, who made this known at the opening session of the West Africa Mining and Power Exhibition (WAMPEX) in Accra yesterday, said following the approval by the government, ECG had been asked to “immediately inject the new transformers into the system” to ensure reliable supply of electricity for development.

Mr Jinapor said the initial challenges with power generation had been stabilised, and the country now exported the resource to neighbouring countries.

He said what remained to be done was to take prudent steps to improve upon the transmission and distribution of power.

WAMPEX 2025

WAMPEX is the largest forum in West Africa for the international mining and power industries. For over 30 years, it has attracted exhibitors from around the world.

WAMPEX is the most important meeting place for seasoned mining and power professionals, policy makers, regulators, and stakeholders in the mining and power sectors.

The conference further allows the chain of stakeholders to keep abreast of the latest industry developments, discuss key challenges, and understand future opportunities.

This year’s conference, which is the 18th in the series, was held on the theme “The mining and power hub: driving sustainable investment opportunities in West Africa.”

WAMPEX 2025 brought together 240 exhibitors from 30 countries and attracted over 5,000 visitors.

The conference was jointly opened by the ministers of Lands and Natural Resources,Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; and Energy and Green Transition, John A. Jinapor.

Reliable power

Mr Jinapor assured players in the mining industry that the government would work round the clock to provide reliable source of power to help unleash the full potential of the sector for national development.

He said the mining and energy sectors were critical to the sustainable development of any country, which was why there was the need for enhanced collaboration between stakeholders in those sectors.

Apt theme

For his part, Mr Buah described WAMPEX as a critical platform that would help the stakeholders to explore innovative strategies to promote responsible mining and efficient management of mineral resources.

The Lands and Natural Resources minister underscored the need for strategic investment in the mining sector, anchored on value addition, to promote sustainable development in Ghana and the sub-region.

However, he stressed that investments in the country’s mining sector must reflect the principles of environmental preservation and protection of community rights.

Beacon of mining

The acting Chief Executive Office (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM),  Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, described the WAMPEX as a beacon for mining, power, energy, and infrastructure development in West Africa and across the globe.

He said the increase in global demand for minerals, especially critical minerals, was a call on stakeholders in the mining sector to ensure that West Africa offered an investment framework that was competitive, sustainable, inclusive and future-ready.

Mr Natogmah stressed that sustainable mining was not just about funding, but that it was about “creating local value, adhering to environmental, social and governance principles, embracing smart regulation and fostering regional integration.”

He said while West Africa’s mineral wealth was its greatest asset, even more powerful was the sub-region’s growing spirit of cooperation across borders.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance

Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the presidential elections of the African Development Bank (AfDB) at the Bank’s ongoing Annual Meetings.

The elections are being held to select a successor to Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the 8th elected President of the AfDB Group, who was first elected on May 28, 2015, by the Bank’s Board of Governors during its Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

In his role as Returning Officer, Dr Forson is responsible for ensuring the integrity and smooth conduct of the voting process, as outlined in Article 5 of the Bank’s electoral rules.

His duties include verifying that the ballot box is empty before each round of voting, confirming the number of ballots cast matches the number of eligible voters, rejecting invalid ballots, and certifying that only valid votes are counted.

He will be supported by the Secretary General, the General Counsel, and a technical team responsible for ensuring the accuracy of vote tabulation in line with Article 7 of the rules.

Dr Forson’s appointment to this pivotal role reflects the confidence the AfDB Board of Governors places in his integrity, professionalism, and deep commitment to transparency and good governance in multilateral financial institutions.

Meanwhile, some five candidates from across the continent are vying for the presidency:

1. Mr. Amadou Hott – Senegal

2. Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo – Zambia

3. Dr. Sidi Ould Tah – Mauritania

4. Mr. Abbas Mahamat Tolli – Chad

5. Ms. Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala – South Africa

By Daniel Agbesi Latsu

Yadzo (O/R), May 29, GNA-The Agortime Cluster of World Vision Ghana has launched a Community Pad Bank initiative in Yadzo, within the Kadjebi Area Programme, as part of the 2025 Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations.

Mr Eric Opoku Agyarko, the Cluster Manager for Agortime, said the initiative sought to provide free sanitary pads to vulnerable and underserved girls in the community, helping to reduce period poverty and promote menstrual dignity.

The launch, held on the global theme: “Together for a Period Friendly World,” brought together stakeholders from the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, and the Kadjebi District Assembly.

Together, they reaffirmed their commitment to breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation and ensuring that every girl has the resources and confidence to manage her period safely and with dignity.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Irvine Aboagye, Southern Regional Operations Manager of World Vision Ghana, highlighted the pressing need for such interventions.

“Teenage pregnancy among girls continues to rise, partly due to their dependence on boys for basic needs like sanitary pads. The Community Pad Bank is not just a donation centre it is a lifeline to protect the dignity and future of our girls,” he stated.

The Pad Bank will be replenished through voluntary community donations, with a call to individuals, institutions, and partners to contribute at least one pack of sanitary pad a month.

The initiative is expected to curb exploitation, boost school attendance among girls, and address long-standing myths and taboos surrounding menstruation.

Cynthia, a midwife from the Yadzo CHPS Compound also conducted a practical menstrual hygiene session, teaching young girls how to properly apply sanitary pads and dispose of them in a safe and hygienic manner.

Dr. Sam Suraj Issaka, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kadjebi, praised the initiative, describing it as a vital intervention in promoting the health, dignity, and educational opportunities for girls in the area.

World Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated annually on May 28.

The day aims to raise awareness about menstrual health and hygiene and to promote the importance of good menstrual hygiene management and to tackle period poverty.

GNA

Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Christian Akorlie

Research and Policy Analysts, Africa Policy Lens (APL) has highlighted factors that have accounted for the significant appreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi in the year 2025, making a notable turnaround after a difficult 2024.

According to APL, the Cedi has appreciated by over 20% against the US dollar so far this year, making it one of the best-performing currencies globally. As of early-May 2025, the Cedi was trading at approximately GH¢13.5 to the dollar, reflecting a 17% gain since January.

APL attributes this recovery to a combination of factors including the government’s fiscal consolidation measures like a sharp reduction in public spending, suspension of new projects, and a freeze on the clearance of arrears which have helped reduce pressure on the currency.

“The Ministry of Finance is reported to have held back payments worth about GH¢69 billion pending audit,” APL stated, “effectively curbing excess demand for foreign exchange.”

At the same time, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has played a central role through strategic interventions. Through the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP), the BoG accumulated gold reserves that were later used to support the Cedi via gold-backed foreign exchange operations. Between January and May 2025, the central bank injected nearly $1 billion into the forex market.

“This included $490 million in April alone and $264 million in March,” APL noted, “which helped improve dollar liquidity and ease depreciation pressure.”

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, APL notes that while these interventions have brought short-term stability, their sustainability remains uncertain.

“Drawing down reserves and delaying payments are not long-term solutions,” the think tank stressed.

APL also acknowledges the influence of external factors such as the weakening of the US dollar amid global trade tensions, which have contributed to the Cedi’s recent gains.

Despite the progress, APL warns that short-term gains should not lead to complacency. The group emphasizes the need for continued reforms, urging the government to build on current momentum with permanent policy measures aimed at fiscal discipline, export diversification, and institutional transparency.

“Short-term gains should not lull policymakers into inaction,” APL cautioned. “Sustainable growth depends on deep, structural reforms.”

Africa Policy Lens (APL), a Policy Research and Analyst Organisation, has commended Ghana’s recent macroeconomic progress but warned that the appreciation of the cedi could be short-lived if not supported by deeper structural reforms.

According to APL, while the cedi has appreciated significantly in the first half of 2025, this has largely been driven by temporary measures.

It mentioned heavy forex market interventions by the Bank of Ghana (nearly $1 billion between January and May 2025) and tough fiscal decisions such as freezing government spending and suspending payment of arrears as factors that have significantly contributed to these gains.

“These gains, while encouraging, are built on temporary pillars that require deeper reforms to become sustainable,” APL noted.

APL points out that Ghana has seen similar periods of stability before, particularly between 2017 and 2019 during the IMF Extended Credit Facility programme. During that time, the cedi was relatively stable due to improved fundamentals, disciplined fiscal policy, and external conditions such as rising oil production and commodity prices.

It suggests that today’s policymakers can learn from that period by focusing on long-term reforms instead of relying on interventions.

“There are lessons from the past—particularly the 2017–2019 period—that show sustainable stability must be anchored in strong fundamentals, not ad hoc measures,” the organisation stated.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, it highlighted the potential risks if current strategies continue without adjustment while warning that the over-reliance on gold-backed interventions and deferred obligations could backfire, especially if commodity prices fall or external financing becomes more difficult.

“Over-reliance on short-term tools such as gold-backed forex support and deferred government obligations could leave the economy vulnerable to external shocks,” APL warned.

It indicated that analysts such as S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Solutions have already warned that the cedi could face renewed depreciation in the second half of 2025 if structural imbalances resurface. “

Global credit watchers are already flagging risks, and Ghana must act swiftly to insulate itself from renewed pressures,” APL emphasised.

APL calls for stronger policy action, including the completion of debt restructuring, diversification of export revenue sources, and improved fiscal management.

It also emphasised the importance of transparent communication from government institutions to maintain investor confidence.

“To maintain the current momentum, reforms must be bold, and communication must be clear to avoid spooking markets,” the group stated.

In conclusion, APL stated that while Ghana’s currency has shown impressive recovery, “the challenge now is to ensure these gains are not only preserved but built upon,” reiterating that “without long-term reforms, the current stability may not hold.”

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

CEO of Saudi Exim bank, Saad Alkhalb and CEO of Ghana Exim Bank, Sylvester Mensah

The Ghana Export–Import Bank (GEXIM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi EXIM Bank to enhance economic ties.

The agreement signed on Monday, May 26, 2025, forms part of efforts by the government to champion Ghana’s economic transformation through the facilitation of international trade and export development.

The Chief Executive of GEXIM, Sylvester A. Mensah and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi EXIM Bank, His Excellency Saad Alkhalb signed the MoU, in Côte d’Ivoire on the sidelines of the 2025 African Development Bank (AfDB) ongoing annual meeting which runs from May 26 to May 30, 2025.

The agreement stipulates that the cooperation between the two banks will; promote the export of goods and services from their respective countries, exchange information and best practices, and boost capacity building efforts.

It will further help the government to explore opportunities including extension of credit lines, project financing, funding for on-lending and issuance of transactional guarantees.

Mensah stated he was honored to have led the signing of the agreement which is in pursuit of GEXIM’s mission to drive Ghana’s economic transformation through international trade and export development.

“I am pleased to announce that Ghana EXIM Bank (GEXIM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Saudi EXIM Bank. I had the honor of signing on behalf of GEXIM, alongside His Excellency Saad Alkhalb, CEO of Saudi EXIM Bank,” he said.

“The agreement, he said was strategic and lays the foundation for deepened cooperation between our two institutions spanning export promotion, Knowledge sharing, capacity building, project financing, credit lines for Saudi equipment imports, and transactional guarantees,” he added.

The GEXIM Chief Executive further stated that the strategic focus for the bank over the next four years will be to prioritise increased food production and strengthen agro-processing, and investments for job creation especially in agriculture and the garment and apparel sub-sector.

This, according to him, aligns with President John Mahama’s broader vision to build a resilient, export-led economy and job creation.

On his part, His Excellency Saad Alkhalb indicated the importance of deepening relations between Saudi Arabia and Ghana and becoming strategic partners.

He further expressed his management’s commitment to fully implementing the MoU to benefit Ghanaian and Saudi businesses.

The GEXIM team included the General Manager, Finance and Strategy, Isaac Amissah – Aidoo, Head of International Cooperation, Jonathan Christopher Koney and Manager, Corporate Affairs, Marcus Garvey Adampah.

SP/VPO

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Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase Ayirebi and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has described the ongoing processes to remove the Chief Justice as political and pre-planned.

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, 29 May, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said the Chief Justice would defend herself but stressed that the whole issue was more political than legal.

“I think for her, she will fight for her rights in the ongoing process. But I think any honest person knows that what is going on is politics and not law,” he said.

He criticised those who claim the process is simply a constitutional one under Articles 146 or 147.

“Anybody who says that this is Article 146 or 147 is either complicit in it or is being naive. Everybody knows what is going on is politics,” he maintained.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah stated that the plan to remove the Chief Justice was not only political but also deliberately laid out ahead of time.

“This was premeditated, this was preannounced, this was preadvertised,” he argued.

He pointed to public comments made by now President John Mahama when he was in opposition, suggesting the NDC planned to change the judiciary’s composition.

“There are clips of now-President Mahama announcing that they have a plan to appoint more NDC persons onto the benches. He announced clearly that they were of the view that the benches were not favourable to them,” he said.

He also claimed that members of the then-opposition party openly attacked the judiciary.

“They bastardised the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court extensively when they were in opposition,” he added.

Referring to the 2020 election petition, Mr Oppong Nkrumah recalled being part of the NPP’s legal team and witnessing public attempts to discredit the Chief Justice.

“I was part of our legal team when we were going through the last election petition. You see all the remarks that are made about her on social media, calling her all sorts of names and trying very hard to link her to the NPP,” he said.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah believes the motive behind the removal attempt was clear from the beginning.

“And so the intention was clear in the issue. If that had not been the case, then people could actually believe that there is an innocuous constitutional process going on,” he said.

Wrapping up, Mr Oppong Nkrumah warned that the legal procedures are only being used to mask a political mission.

“What is going on is a pre-advertised, pre-orchestrated, pre-planned exercise now using the legal processes as a cover, and I don’t think anybody is fooled by that, but what I will say to that is that the consequences of our actions are ahead of us,” he added.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.