The latest Afrobarometer survey has disclosed a concerning trend of 52% Ghanaians paid bribes to the police in the past year to gain assistance.
This revelation underscores a growing public perception of corruption within Ghana’s law enforcement.
The report further highlights pressing issues facing Ghanaians.
Unemployment continues to top the list, with 41% of respondents identifying it as the most urgent problem for the government to address.
Alongside employment, 82% of Ghanaians feel the country is on the wrong track, voicing a need for action on infrastructure and healthcare improvements.
Presenting the findings, Dr. Edem Selormey, Director of Research at CDD-Ghana, remarked, “We see that unemployment, infrastructure, and health are the three most important things to Ghanaians, and they want the government to address these issues.”
In addition to those who paid bribes for assistance, 38% admitted to paying bribes to avoid police-related trouble.
Dr. Selormey noted, “This data shows that Ghanaians are willing to pay a bribe to get out of trouble.
And that has gone up significantly from 2022, which is concerning.
While we often point to the police as corrupt, it’s also important to consider the role of citizens in perpetuating these practices.”