In recent years, Ghana has often been regarded as one of the safest countries in West Africa. However, like any country, Ghana faces crime and public safety challenges.
So, in this article, we analyse over 45 key crime statistics, trends, and facts to shed light on the prevalence of various crimes and assess whether the situation is improving or worsening.
Key takeaways
- Ghana recorded zero terrorist activities in 2022, a significant achievement in maintaining national security.
- Ghana’s crime index was 44.5 in 2023, placing it within the moderate crime level category.
- Firearms were used in 62.8% of violent crimes in Ghana from January to June 2022, followed by knives/machetes at 24.5%.
- 14,135 road accidents were recorded in 2023, resulting in 2,276 deaths and 15,409 injuries.
- The economic impact of violence in Ghana in 2022 was around 10.1 billion U.S. dollars, a slight decrease from 10.5 billion in 2021.
- Ghana’s homicide rate was 1.84 per 100,000 people in 2021, a slight increase from previous years.
- Ghana’s prison population decreased to 13,300 in 2020, down from 14,500 in the preceding two years.
General crime statistics
1. Ghana’s crime index was 44.5 in 2023. (Statista)
In 2023, Ghana’s crime index was 44.5, considered a moderate level of crime. In a given city or country, a crime index under 20 is considered very low, between 20 and 40 is low, between 40 and 60 is moderate, 60 to 80 is high, and over 80 is very high.
2. The crime index of Greater Accra was 44.17 in 2023. (Statista)
Greater Accra’s crime index was 44.17 in 2023, placing it within the moderate crime level category.
3. The risk of genocide is recorded at 0.2% between 2023 and 2024. (Statista)
The risk of mass murder in Ghana for the period between 2023 and 2024 was recorded at 0.2%, a decrease from the 0.7% risk level in 2022.
4. There is no record of mass killings. (Statista)
Ghana has no record of mass killings from 1945 to date. The absence of such events highlights the country’s relative peace and security.
5. Ghana ranked 97th on the Global Peace Index in 2023. (Statista)
In 2023, Ghana ranked 97th out of 166 countries on the Global Peace Index, with a score of 1.8. The peace indicator ranges from one to five; the more peaceful a country is, the lower the score.
6. Ghana placed 43rd on the risk index score of money laundering and terrorist financing in 2023. (Statista)
In 2023, Ghana improved its global ranking on the money laundering and terrorist financing risk index to 43rd out of 128 countries, up from 53rd in 2012, with a score of 5.29.
7. Ghana recorded zero points on the global terrorism index in 2022. (Statista)
In 2022, Ghana scored zero on the Global Terrorism Index, maintaining the same score from 2021. This score reflects the country’s absence of significant terrorist activities, contrasting scores of 1.74 in 2019 and 1.56 in 2018.
8. Ghana’s homicide rate was at 1.84 cases in 2021. (Statista)
In 2021, Ghana’s homicide rate stood at 1.84 cases per 100,000 individuals, an increase from 1.72 and 1.81 in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
9. 180 special cases of crime were reported in Ghana in 2022. (Statista)
In the first half of 2022, Ghana recorded 180 special crime cases, which include uncommon or unusual crimes such as high-tech cybercrime. January recorded the highest number of these cases, with 41 incidents reported.
10. Firearms were the weapons used most for violent crimes in 2022. (Statista)
From January to June 2022, 62.8% of all weapons used in violent crimes were firearms. This was followed by Knives or machetes, which accounted for 24.5%, and other weapons, making up 12.8%.
11. 14 new attacks against civilians were recorded in Ghana in early 2024. (Statista)
As of February 2024, Ghana had recorded 14 new violent attacks against civilians. The highest number of such incidents occurred in 2022, with 75 attacks.
12. 19 new riots were recorded in Ghana in 2024. (Statista)
As of February 2024, 19 new riot-related events were recorded in Ghana. The highest number of recorded riots was 161 in 2023.
13. There was only one violent clash recorded in early 2024. (Statista)
The incident occurred at Osino Presby Senior High and Technical School, where police officers were deployed following a violent confrontation between students and residents of the Nsuapemso community in the Fanteakwa South District. The highest number of violent clashes recorded in recent years was in 2019, with 27 incidents.
14. 249 police arrests were made in the first half of 2022. (Statista)
Between January and June 2022, 249 police arrests were made. The most arrests happened in May (55 arrests) and January (54 arrests). In contrast, February had the fewest arrests (19 cases).
15. There were 13,333 prisoners in Ghana as of 2020. (Prison Studies)
In 2020, Ghana’s prison population stood at 13,333, a reduction from about 14,467 prisoners in the preceding two years.
16. 1,666 people in Ghanaian prisons were remanded in custody in the first quarter of 2024. (Statista)
As of February 2024, 1,666 people in Ghanaian prisons were remanded in custody.
17. The total economic cost of violence accounted for 3% of Ghana’s GDP in 2022. (Statista)
In 2022, the total economic cost of violence accounted for 3% of Ghana’s GDP. Despite this significant proportion, the economic damages related to violence remained consistent with those of the previous years.
18. The economic impact of violence in 2022 was approximately 10.1 billion U.S. dollars. (Statista)
In 2022, the economic impact of violence in Ghana was approximately 10.1 billion U.S. dollars, a slight decrease from the 10.5 billion U.S. dollars recorded in 2021.
19. Crime rate and statistics were 0.00 in 2022. (Macrotrends)
Ghana’s crime rate was recorded at 0.00 in 2022, a reduction from the 1.84 rate in 2021.
20. The number of reported public safety incidents reduced in the first half of 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
The total number of reported public safety incidents reduced from 664 cases between January and June 2021 to 663 during the same period in 2022.
21. The reported deaths in Ghana increased between January and June 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
The total number of reported deaths increased from 501 in the first half of 2021 to 546 in the first half of 2022.
22. The use of illegal arms increased in 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
The use of illegal arms recorded increased from 3 cases between January and June of 2021 to 14 cases between January and June 2022
23. Cases of fraud and impersonation increased in 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
Recorded cases of fraud and impersonation increased from 18 cases in the first half of 2021 to 23 in the same period in 2022.
24. Increase in cases of drug peddling or trafficking in Ghana in 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
Recorded cases of drug peddling or trafficking increased from 9 cases in the first half of 2021 to 11 cases in the first half of 2022.
25. Recorded cases of police brutality increased in Ghana in 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
In the first half of 2022, cases of police brutality doubled, rising from 3 cases in the first half of 2021 to 6 cases during the same period in 2022.
26. Police officer casualty reduced in Ghana in the first half of 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
The number of police officer casualties recorded reduced in the first half of 2022, with recorded cases dropping from 4 in the first half of 2021 to 2 during the same period in 2022.
27. Ghana ranks 70th out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2022. (Transparency International)
In 2022, Ghana ranked 70th out of 180 countries with a score of 43 on the Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures global public sector corruption.
28. Ghana Police ranked first on the list of public officials vulnerable to bribery in 2021. (UN Ghana Report)
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime survey in 2021 reported that the Ghana police had the highest occurrence rate of bribery among public officials, at 53.2%.
Rape statistics
29. Volta Region saw a decrease in rape cases in 2022. (GNA)
The region recorded a decline in rape cases, with 31 cases in 2022 compared to 49 cases in 2021.
Sexual assault statistics
30. Greater Accra had the highest number of support services for sexual assault cases in Ghana. (Statista)
Greater Accra was recorded as the region with the highest health facilities for support of rape and sexual violence survivors, accounting for 23% of such facilities across Ghana.
31. 14% of women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. (DHS, 2022)
According to the 2022 Demographic and Health Survey Summary Report, 14% of women aged 15-49 years in Ghana have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives.
32. More than half of women who have experienced physical or sexual violence in Ghana never asked for help or reported the abuse to someone. (DHS, 2022)
Approximately 51% of women who have experienced physical or sexual violence never asked for help or reported the abuse to anyone. 38% actively sought help, while 10% never asked for help but reported the abuse to someone.
Defilement statistics
33. The Volta Region saw a decline in defilement cases in 2022. (GNA)
In 2022, the Volta region registered 39 defilement cases, significantly decreasing from the 136 cases recorded in 2021.
Armed robbery statistics
34. There was a decrease in armed robbery in Ghana in the first half of 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
Armed robbery incidents in Ghana declined in the first half of 2022, with reported cases from 72 between January and June 2021 to 58 in the same period in 2022.
35. Armed robbery was reported as Ghana’s second most committed crime in the first half of 2022. (Bureau of Public Safety)
Despite the reduction in armed robbery cases in the first half of 2022, it remained the second most committed crime in Ghana during this period, following murder or manslaughter.
Road accident statistics
36. 14,135 road accidents were registered in Ghana in 2023. (Joy Online)
In 2023, 14,135 road accidents were recorded, resulting in 2,276 deaths and 15,409 injuries.
37. There was a decline in road accidents in Ghana in 2023. (Joy Online)
The number of incidents decreased from 14,960 in 2022 to 14,135 in 2023. This decline also reduced the number of fatalities from 2,373 deaths to 2,276 and 15,690 to 15,409 injuries.
38. There was a decline in vehicles involved in road accidents in the first half of 2023. (Citi Newsroom)
The number of vehicles involved in road accidents reduced from 13,248 in the first half of 2022 to 11,763 in the first half of 2023.
39. 23,998 vehicles were involved in road accidents in 2023. (Joy Online)
In 2023, Ghana recorded about 23,998 vehicles involved in road accidents. This figure includes 5,147 motorcycles, 10,767 private vehicles, and 8,084 commercial vehicles.
40. 5,791 road accidents were recorded in Accra in 2023. (Joy Online)
In 2023, the Greater Accra region experienced 5,791 road accidents, with 4,797 occurring in Accra and 994 in Tema.
41. 1,086 deaths were recorded from road accidents in the first half of 2023. (Citi Newsroom)
A total of 1,086 people were reported to have died in road accidents from January to June 2023, a decrease from the 1,300 fatalities recorded during the same period in 2022.
42. 7,807 people sustained injuries in the first half of 2023. (Citi Newsroom)
From January to June 2023, 7,807 people sustained injuries in road accidents, a slight decrease compared to the 8,007 injuries reported during the same period in 2022.
43. About 174 deaths were recorded from road accidents in January 2024. (GNA)
The Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation report indicated that approximately 174 people died (146 males, 28 females) in road accidents in January 2024. A decline from 180 in January 2023.
44. There was an increase in road accidents in early 2024. (NRSA)
The total number of road accidents recorded in January and February 2024 was 2,260, compared to 2,249 in January and February 2023.
45. The number of vehicles involved in road accidents increased from 2023. (NRSA).
3,910 vehicles, including private vehicles, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles, among others, were involved in road accidents in Ghana between January and February 2024, an increase from 3,857 recorded between January and February 2023
46. National Road Safety Authority recorded 369 deaths and 2,552 injuries between January and February 2024. (NRSA)
Between January and February 2024, 369 deaths and 2,552 injuries were recorded, compared to 330 deaths and 2,502 injuries between January and February 2023.
47. There was a decline in pedestrian knockdowns in Ghana’s first half of 2023. (Citi Newsroom)
Pedestrian knockdowns recorded from January to June 2023 indicated a decline from 1,356 cases in the first half of 2022 to 1,205 cases in the first half of 2023.
Conclusion
Every country is with safety challenges, and Ghana is no exception. While issues like violent crime and road accidents are still concerns, there have been significant improvements, such as a decrease in armed robbery and a notable absence of terrorist activities.
These statistics and insights give us a broader view of the country’s challenges. What are the best ways for Ghana to address these challenges? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.
