Top 10 most corrupt institutions in Ghana
Police, DVLA, Immigration and GHAPOHA are among the institutions with the highest reported bribery cases.
Seven out of every 10 Ghanaians who accessed public services between July and December 2025 were asked to make unofficial payments, according to the latest governance data released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The findings, presented during the GSS Governance Series event on August 4, 2026, reveal a worrying increase in corruption-related demands within public institutions despite some improvements in overall bribery levels.
Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said the incidence of actual bribe payments increased from 14.3% in the first half of 2025 to 18.0% during the second half of the year. More strikingly, the proportion of citizens who reported being asked for a bribe by public officials rose sharply to 69.4%.
"The pressure sits at the counter," Dr Iddrisu said, stressing that corruption is largely driven by demands from public officials rather than offers from citizens.
Overall bribery declines despite increased solicitation.
Despite the rise in demands for unofficial payments, the report indicates that Ghana recorded modest progress compared to 2024.
Overall bribery prevalence declined to 16.8%, while high-value bribes exceeding GH¢1,000 fell significantly from 14.7% to 7.6%. The survey also found growing public resistance to corruption, with 4.9% of respondents refusing to pay bribes when asked.
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Police, DVLA and Immigration are among the worst-affected institutions.
According to the GSS, corruption remains concentrated in public institutions where citizens frequently interact with officials.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service recorded the highest rate of reported unofficial payments at 54.6%, followed by the Police General Duties Unit (37.4%) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) (29.5%).
Top 10 Institutions for Bribe Payments (Jul–Dec 2025)
Police – Motor Traffic & Transport Division (MTTD): 54.6%
Police – General Duties: 37.4%
Police – Criminal Investigation Department (CID): 29.5%
Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA): 26.2%
Traffic Management Authority (City Guard): 24.8%
Ghana Immigration Service: 23.5%
Births and Deaths Registry: 20.3%
Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA): 18.0%
Passport Office: 11.1%
Embassy / Consulate: 10.7%
The report found that 94.8% of all bribes were paid in cash, although the use of non-cash gifts, including property and other valuables, increased during the reporting period.
Dr Iddrisu called for accelerated digitalisation of public services to reduce direct interactions between citizens and public officials, arguing that limiting human discretion would significantly reduce opportunities for extortion.
He also urged stronger protection for citizens who refuse to pay bribes, saying such measures are essential to reducing corruption across public institutions.
Edem Kwame
Chief Editor
Edem Kwame is a staff journalist at GH News Media, where he covers sports, politics, news and current affairs with a sharp focus on Ghanaian and African football.
