UN Data Reveals Ghana’s Top Institutions Associated With Bribery And Corruption

Data from the United Nations (UN) has revealed the institutions in Ghana that are most associated with bribery based on a study conducted in the country in 2021. The results showed the following top bribe-taking institutions:

1. Lands Commission: This agency under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources was identified as the institution that receives the highest average bribe size, with an average of 1669.
2. Judicial System (Prosecutors, Judges, and Magistrates): The judicial system came second on the list with an average bribe size of 1204.
3. Ghana Immigration Service: Officials of the Ghana Immigration Service ranked third, with an average bribe size of 950.
4. Local Government Representatives: Local government representatives ranked fourth in the list of top bribe-taking institutions.
5. GRA Customs Officers: Customs officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) were fifth on the list.
6. Passport Agency Officials: Officials of the Passport Agency occupied the sixth position in terms of bribe-taking.
7. Teachers, Lecturers, and Professors: The survey indicated that teachers, lecturers, and professors ranked seventh among the institutions.
8. Public Utility Officials: Public utility officials were listed eighth in terms of bribe-taking.
9. Doctors, Nurses, and Midwives: Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, ranked ninth on the list.
10. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Officials: Officials of the DVLA were listed as the tenth institution associated with bribery.

The survey also found that most of these institutions engage in bribe-taking or solicitation in a significant percentage of the public services they provide, ranging from 70% to 97%.

he survey also provided insights into regional variations in bribery requests. The Oti Region had the highest percentage of public officers requesting bribes (91%), followed by the Northern Region (89.2%), Upper East (83.4%), North East (81.2%), Upper West (80.3%), and Ashanti (70.4%).

Bright Simons, a vice president of IMANI Africa, highlighted the survey on Twitter, noting that the data also indicated that teachers and professors in Ghana tend to avoid cash when taking bribes.

See the lists below: