Presenting findings from the Governance Series Wave 1 Report, Mr. Omar Seidu, Head of Social Statistics at GSS, disclosed that 55.7 per cent of the population had contact with public officials between January and December 2024. Of those, 18.4 per cent admitted to offering gifts—mostly money—to facilitate services.

The report ranked the top ten public institutions perceived as prone to bribery. These included:

• Police Motor Transport and Traffic Division (MTTD) – 61.0%

• Police General Duties – 46.7%

• Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) – 37.9%

• Traffic Management Authority/City Guard – 34.4%

For persons with disabilities, 21.1 per cent reported having given gifts, with even higher rates among those with physical impairments (40.1%) and visual difficulties (32.5%).

Regionally, the highest bribery incidences were recorded in Greater Accra (22.0%) and Ashanti (18.1%), while the lowest were in Savannah (1.0%) and North East (1.1%).

The report also exposed governance challenges. In 2024, over 70 per cent of Ghanaians felt the political system provided little or no opportunity for ordinary people to participate in decision-making.

Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, emphasised the importance of evidence-based governance.
“Governance should be shaped by the voices of citizens, and policy reform must be driven by robust, inclusive, and representative evidence,” he said.

He reaffirmed the GSS’s commitment to delivering credible and consistent data to aid national development efforts.

Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, welcomed the report as timely, stating that corruption remains a major impediment to Ghana’s development.
“Addressing this issue will pave the way for sustainable progress,” he added.

Deputy Clerk of Parliament, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, noted the report offers valuable insights for correcting governance lapses, while Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, Head of the Office of the Head of Civil Service, stressed the need to build public trust through improved perceptions of governance.

Mr. Samuel Harrison-Cudjoe, a Programmes Officer, expressed concern over the impact of partisan politics on civic engagement, observing that many citizens avoid participating in community activities due to feelings of exclusion.

The report was compiled using data from over 20 public institutions and a nationwide survey conducted from January 2 to 20, 2025. The survey reached 7,248 respondents across 15,400 households, based on the 2021 Population and Housing Census framework.

It assessed public sector governance performance for the period January–December 2024, focusing on inclusiveness, responsiveness, and corruption. The findings align with Sustainable Development Goal 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Source: Ghana News Agency (GNA)

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Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez has been sentenced to 11 years in prison, following his conviction on bribery and corruption charges.

Last July, a jury found Menendez guilty on 16 counts for accepting gifts, including gold bars, cash and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for helping foreign governments.

Prosecutors were seeking at least a 15-year sentence, citing in court documents the “rare gravity” of the ex-senator’s crimes.

Lawyers for Menendez, 71, had called for a shorter sentence paired with community service.

This comment comes after JoyNews’ investigations uncovered how customs officials take bribes to allow traders to transport smuggled goods from neighbouring countries to the country’s local markets.

These officials take bribes ranging from ¢20 to ¢200 to allow these traders who have evaded paying taxes on their goods to get off the hook.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on July 29, she said there is a need for a trustworthy complaint system where people can report issues confidentially and expect solutions.

“When people who have lamented and complained have issues and they know that this mechanism can be trusted, it is confidential and they know that they will make their complaints and get solutions to them, then they would do so.”

“So we have proposed the toll-free line that we use for the advocacy and legal advice centre to the customs division”.

She also stated that there have been efforts to train customs officials and improve their integrity.

According to the Executive Director, if the system is implemented, the only reason people might think they can evade consequences is when they believe their actions are protecting the country.

“Those who are protecting the country will know that if they try, they will be caught and when they are caught, they will be sanctioned heavily. I believe they have a unit that is dealing with that. So if we are successful with this, we will see a lot of changes.”

“When people get sacked for the 20 cedis they take, then their friends would be thinking twice before taking any such action in the future. So reporting whistle-blowing effectively and also ensuring there is great compliance, and those who are guilty are taken through the process to get punished in the courts, I believe that is the only way we can deal with this,” she said.

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Mr Gbande argued that despite the EC’s deployment of military personnel at various polling stations, addressing suspected bribery is not merely an administrative issue but a criminal matter.

He said that in any responsible jurisdiction, both the MP and the electoral officers should face arrest.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, April 30, Mr Gbande stated that although the contents of the ‘white envelope’ remain undisclosed, such actions are unacceptable within the context of elections.

He emphasized that since the MP displayed the ‘white envelope’ at the election grounds, the only appropriate course of action is a criminal investigation.

“First of all, arresting the said MP, unethical politician and also arresting the partial receiver of that envelope, that should be the first step that should be taken,” Mr Gbande said.

His comment comes after Prof Kingsley Nyarko, MP for Kwadaso was caught on camera handing over an envelope suspected to contain cash to some Electoral Commission (EC) officials at a polling centre in the by-election at Ejisu.

In a viral video trending on social media, Mr Nyarko was seen surreptitiously pulling the white envelope from his pocket and placing it on the table in front of the EC officials.

Subsequently, the EC withdrew two of its officials amid allegations of bribery.

On the back of this, the Deputy General Secretary of the NDC clarified that replacing EC officials and introducing new ones is not a solution to suspected criminal activities.

“In this case, we can say that there may be already vote unprinted ballot papers, he may say no, we will say it is money being exchanged hands which is bribery, the electoral officer has received so both parties are in a crime.

“Even if it’s not money, and it is any other thing, why the perimeter of voting and so clearly, it affects the credibility and reputation of the exercise that is ongoing which warrants a criminal arrest,” he added, urging the police to promptly apprehend the MP.

Ms Mapisa-Nqakula arrived at a police station in Centurion, 40km (24 miles) from Johannesburg on Thursday.

She is due to make her first court appearance at Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption.

The politician is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts during her time as Defence Minister.

After weeks of investigations, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday, saying the move wasn’t an “indication or admission of guilt”.

She said given the “seriousness” of the probe she could not continue her role.

She has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Last month a special police unit raided her Johannesburg home in connection with the corruption investigation.

The 67-year-old veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle became speaker in 2021. Before that, she served as Defence Minister for seven years.

Last week, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula’s lawyers filed a request for a court order to prevent her arrest, saying it would infringe on her dignity.

On Tuesday, judges rejected her bid on the basis that the matter was not urgent and they could not speculate on an arrest that was yet to happen.

Ms Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of making several demands for money, amounting to $120,000 (£96,000), from the owner of a company to secure a tender to transport army equipment back to South Africa from elsewhere on the continent, the Business Day newspaper reports.

The resignation comes ahead of next month’s general election, which some believe could be difficult for the governing African National Congress (ANC).

The party, which has been in power since 1994, has faced repeated allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds, which have become a key election issue.

In January, he pleaded guilty to taking bribes worth a total of 81 million yuan ($11.2m; £8.9m).

An anti-corruption crackdown led by President Xi Jinping has cut through sport, banking and the military.

In football, more than a dozen coaches and players have been investigated.

The trial at the Intermediate People’s Court of Huangshi in central China revealed Chen’s illicit activities from 2010 to 2023, which included his earlier role as the president and chairman of Shanghai International Port Group.

Prosecutors said Chen accepted money and valuables in exchange for his help with obtaining project contracts and arranging sporting events.

The court ruling said he had brought “tremendous damage” to China’s football cause, according to the state-controlled Xinhua news agency.

State media also said that three other senior football officials were sentenced on Tuesday to between eight and 14 years in prison for corruption.

Earlier this year, an ex-Everton midfielder and former head coach of China’s national men’s soccer team, Li Tie, confessed to fixing matches and offering bribes to people, including Chen, to get China’s top coaching job.

China’s foreign ministry also confirmed that South Korea’s Son Jun-ho, who played for Shandong Taishan, was held in police custody in relation to a bribery case. South Korea’s foreign ministry said this week that he had been released from detention.

In the past President Xi has voiced his ambition to turn China into a major footballing nation. In 2011, he spoke of his ‘three wishes’ for Chinese football: to qualify for the World Cup again, to host the tournament and to one day win the trophy.

Over the past decade, clubs in China’s Super League have spent huge sums of money to attract some of the world’s top players, including Brazilian midfielder Oscar, former Argentina forward Carlos Tevez and Belgian international Axel Witsel.

However, that resulted in clubs piling up debts and the CFA announced a salary cap in 2020.

At the time, it said the move was aimed to focus investment on developing homegrown talent instead of importing international stars.

Now, only a small number of foreign players remain in the league.

Recent detentions of major football figures have dealt another setback to the country’s football ambitions.

Despite these problems, domestic football is still popular in China and Mr Chen’s corruption scandal shocked fans.

The accusation is born out of his silence prior to and during the ongoing general election that has brought the country to a standstill.

Many celebrities have publicly announced their affiliations and advocated for a better Nigeria, but Burna Boy remains indifferent.

This, he said in a rant on social media, is because he has no faith in any political party or governance, but Nigerians believe there is more to his claims.

They have accused the once vocal artiste of being tight-lipped so as not to lose favour in the eyes of his paymasters.

In reaction, he clarified that he has never made money from any Nigerian government in the past or present, neither has he taken any house or land as speculated.

Burna Boy added that he has never been appointed into any public office and he never intends to be.

For his funds, he clarified that they come from his craft.

He further asked those on his case to cut him some slack and “get out” because he does not owe anybody any vote.

Explaining her words of encouragement, Akua Donkor opined the hefty amounts taken by top officials are nothing compared to the meager denominations the police receive for road laws defiance.

The first-time aspirant believes people who are criticising the police for making money off their work are unwell.

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The reason, she pegged, is the symbiotic relationship that exists between drivers and police officers, one that resembles husband and wife.

“Drivers are like the husbands of police officers, so spending money that belongs to your husband is no sin,” she said

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has condemned a press conference by the Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Buabeng Asamoah, on the raging airbus bribery scandal.

At the said press conference, the NPP official named former president John Dramani Mahama as the person described in the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) report on the Airbus bribery case as “Government Official 1”.

But Mr Innusah has described the actions of Mr Buabeng Asamoah and his party as unethical, gross impunity and unprofessional.

Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show, Mr Inussah who is also a legal practitioner, explained that the judge of the UK court made it categorically clear that because of human rights considerations and the fact that persons connected to the matter were not criminals, it would be inappropriate to mention their names.

He said it was for that reason, therefore, that he finds it wrong that the NPP would go ahead and mention names of persons in connection with that matter.

I will say it without any fear of doubt. What the director of communications for the NPP did by holding a press conference to name persons as being directly connected with the airbus scandal was totally unprofessional, he said.

The judge of the UK court even made it clear that those persons have not been convicted and it would be a breach of human rights if their names are mentioned and then NPP goes ahead to mention names. This level of impunity can only happen in NPP, he added.

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Airbus agreed on Friday to pay a record $4 billion fine after reaching a plea bargain with prosecutors in the United Kingdom, France and United States over acts of bribery and corruption stretching back at least 15 years. 

Ghana, during the Mills-Mahama administration, was said to be among some 13 countries that allegedly benefited from bribes paid by Airbus.

According to the Statement of Facts, between 2009 and 2015, “a number of Airbus employees made or promised success based commission payments of approximately €5 million to Intermediary 5”, who is said to be “a close relative of a high ranking elected Ghanaian Government official (Government Official 1)”.

Mr Fuseini, a former Roads Minister under the Mahama administration, cautioned against names being mentioned in relation to the scandal as persons named in connection with the issue can seek recourse in the law courts.

According to a member of the New Patriotic Part (NPP) communications team, Ekow Horace Ewusi the allegation was designed to dent the image of the Minority leader to pave way for ex-President John Dramani Mahama ahead of the 2020 elections.

“The allegation was only meant to destroy the presidential ambition of the Minority leader of Parliament and they fell threatened and afraid of Haruna Iddrisu’s potentials and charisma” he claimed.

Speaking Wednesday on Adom FM’s BURNING ISSUES program hosted by Afia Pokua, Horace said the former statesman and some elements within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) fell threatened by Haruna’s potentials to lead the party as flagbearer for the 2020 general elections.

His comment follows posters of 2nd deputy Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Bagbin circulating on social media emerging as one of the former President John Mahama’s contenders ahead of NDC’s primaries.

Apart from the Nadowli/Kaleo Member of Parliament posters, former Greater Accra Regional Minister under the Rawlings government, Joshua Alabi, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah; former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, former National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) CEO, Sylvester Mensah and among others are also reportedly lacing their boots to declare intention to stand on the ticket of the party.

But a member of the NDC legal team, Lawyer Victor Kojogah Adawudu said any of it members desirous to lead the party in 2020 will get the support of the members.

He stated that those wrangling within the party are normal trend in the history of opposition political parties but the NDC will elect a marketable and unifier to lead them.

Kojogah Adawudu said the party will not allow any questionable characters to lead the party in 2020.

Mr Dodovi alleged in his petition that a delegation led by the PM, Abraham Boadi, and the Convener of the Environmental Sub-Committee of the assembly, Nana Yaw Wiredu, were in Accra recently to meet and negotiate with an investor, Alphar Power Company Limited, on behalf of the assembly without recourse to the house.

The petition submitted to CHRAJ last Tuesday in Kumasi further alleged that the meeting was to influence a decision to secure a contract for the investor in the metropolis.

Mr Dodovi’s petition follows an earlier one by some aggrieved members of the assembly and submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the KMA, Osei Asibey Antwi for action.

The petition alleged that the airfares of the assembly members were paid by the investor along with an amount of GH¢30,000 to the delegation with a promise to add GH¢200,000 later.

In an interview with Graphic Online, Mr Boadi confirmed meeting the investor in Accra at his request but denied the bribery allegation.

He acknowledged that each member of the delegation was offered GH¢500 for transportation on their arrival at the Kumasi International Airport.

“In any case, the meeting was no secret. It was open to all except not all members could make it to Accra. Come to think of it, what kind of contract does Alphar Power want to bride us for GH¢200,000?” he queried.