What Influences the Propensity to Report Corruption to Relevant State Authorities? Evidence From Ghana

Abstract

Encouraging the public to report corrupt acts to state authorities is indispensable in combatting corruption. This article uses the Afrobarometer surveys (Rounds 7 and 8) focusing on Ghana to address a key question: Will high corruption tolerance and less trust in government reduce the tendency to report corrupt acts to relevant state authorities without fear? The current work draws on social accountability theory and political settlements framework. Our results indicate that tolerance of corruption does not predict the perceived propensity to report corruption, whereas trust in government is, with high trust increasing the likelihood of reporting corruption. The current work extends the substantiative understanding of the conditions under which respondents believe that ordinary people may or may not report corruption and the implications for strengthening anti-corruption work.