A chunk of Ghanaians believe that corruption has increased significantly in the country in recent years.
According to the 2021 Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey (GIPSS) conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), 75% of Ghanaians think that corruption worsened during the two years leading to the survey.
“Three in every four, representing 75.0 percent of adults think corruption increased in Ghana in the two years preceding the survey with about half, representing 52.6 percent thinking corruption increased due to COVID-19.”
GSS
Respondents however, believe the menace could be addressed by the putting in place appropriate measures, one of which is the improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.
“The most frequently selected strategies for fighting corruption are improving living standards (45.1% of adults), improving the access to basic services for all (41.2% of adults), and introducing an anonymous reporting system against corruption (35.9% of adults).”
GSS
Though most Ghanaians believe the menace can be addressed with the appropriate measures and policies, majority of the respondents are not aware of the major institutions tasked with the mandate of fighting corruption in the country.
“Less than half (46.5%) of adults in Ghana are aware of the major anti-corruption agencies i.e. Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).”
GSS
More confidence in religious and traditional justice systems
The survey revealed that Ghanaians are gradually losing confidence in formal institutions in the fight against corruption in the country.
The findings showed that 69.9% of Ghanaians, representing seven in every ten adults, have more confidence in the religious and traditional justice system than the formal one.
“Seven in every 10 (69.9%) adults hold the view that the religious and traditional leaders’ system effectively protects the rights of every citizen, a figure that is 10.8 percentage points higher than those who agree that the formal justice system effectively protects the rights of every citizen (59.1%).”
GSS
The GSS made public the findings of the survey to coincide with the celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD), which is observed annually on December 9.
Since 2006, Ghana’s score and ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index has improved slightly, ranked higher than Italy and Brazil. However, there is a growing perception in Ghana that government-related corruption is on the rise.
Ghana ranked 73rd on the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2021, tied with Hungary, Kuwait, Senegal and the Solomon Islands. Even though corruption in Ghana is relatively low when compared to other countries in Africa, businesses frequently quote corruption as an obstacle for doing business in the country.
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