GSS launches governance series report, reveals stark realities of citizen perception on corruption and participation

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has officially launched the Governance Series Wave 1 Report, revealing troubling insights into citizen perceptions of governance, corruption, and inclusiveness in Ghana.

The launch event, held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, brought together a cross-section of government officials, civil society actors, academia, and development partners.

The welcome address was delivered by Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, who underscored the importance of using data to shape governance reforms in the country.

“This report is far more than a collection of statistics,” Dr. Iddrisu noted.

“It is a powerful reminder that meaningful policy reform must be grounded in robust, inclusive, and representative evidence that captures the diverse experiences of Ghanaians.”

The Governance Series Wave 1 Report is the first of its kind under a panel survey approach and covers responses from 7,248 citizens across all 16 regions of Ghana using the Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CAPI) method.

The survey, conducted from January to December 2024, explores themes such as corruption, inclusiveness, responsiveness, and citizen participation.

Key Findings Paint Stark Picture

Dr. Iddrisu highlighted several sobering insights from the report:

• Over 70% of Ghanaians believe the current political system offers little to no space for them to influence decision-making.

• 18.4% of citizens who interacted with public officials in 2024 admitted to giving gifts – mostly money – as a form of bribery to access public services.

• Bribery was significantly more common among males (68.3%) and urban residents (64.3%), compared to females (31.7%) and rural dwellers (35.7%).

• Alarmingly, 21.1% of persons living with disabilities reported engaging in bribery, with the highest prevalence among those with physical (40.1%) and visual (32.5%) impairments.

• Regionally, Greater Accra (22.0%) and Ashanti (18.1%) reported the highest rates of gift-giving, while Savannah (1.0%) and North East (1.1%) reported the lowest.

“These results carry critical implications for how we design policies, implement anti-corruption measures, and rebuild public trust in our institutions,” Dr. Iddrisu emphasized.

Evidence for Action

As Ghana prepares for its 3rd Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) this July, the findings from the report will serve as a vital benchmark for measuring performance, particularly under SDG Indicator 16.5.1 (bribery prevalence) and 16.7.2 (inclusiveness and responsiveness in decision-making).

Dr. Iddrisu noted that the Governance Series is a panel survey, meaning the same respondents will be revisited every six months.

This will allow the GSS to track changes and measure the impact of ongoing governance reforms over time.

“This is just the beginning,” he said.

“We are committed to ensuring public sector transformation is measurable, consistent, and grounded in data.”

A Call for Greater Support

The Government Statistician used the occasion to recognize the contributions of key institutional partners including CHRAJ, CDD Ghana, GACC, GII, and GIZ Ghana, while calling for increased technical, institutional, and financial support to scale up data production efforts across sectors.

“The GSS stands ready to replicate this kind of evidence production in sectors such as health, education, labour, and social protection,” Dr. Iddrisu stated.

"But to do this effectively, we need sustained support from government, private sector, civil society, academia, and development partners.”

He urged all stakeholders – including journalists, policy actors, and researchers – to make use of the findings and drive evidence-based decision-making at all levels.

“Data is only powerful when it is used,” he concluded. “Let us work together to embed evidence into the heart of governance reform – for transparency, for accountability, and ultimately, for the Ghana we all envision.”

The event featured a high-level panel discussion moderated by Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Executive Director of IDEG, with contributions from governance experts and civil society leaders.

The Governance Series Report is expected to be a critical tool in guiding policy, informing reforms, and enhancing transparency in Ghana’s public service sector.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith