Should I Accept or Refute? Understanding the Socio-Organizational Factors Influencing Corruption in Ghana’s Public Service
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Integrity
Abstract
Corruption remains endemic despite intensified global anti-corruption
efforts, indicating a need to reassess current strategies. This study focused
on how context-specific socio-organizational factors influence employees’
engagement in corrupt activities in Ghana’s public service. The sample for
the study consists of 48 public service workers. This includes 26 middle level management staff who participated in the focus group discussions
and 22 directors who were interviewed individually. Additionally, 8 expert
interviews were conducted to enhance comprehension and discussion of
the findings. Key socio-organizational factors, including “opportunistic
staffing,” “reciprocal appreciation,” “praise singing,” and “order from above”
were identified. Formal rules and sanctions alone were found to be inad equate in addressing corruption due to the complex contextual nature of
the socio-organizational factors. These factors could serve as a foundation
for designing training programs and nudges that promote ethical behavior.
Moreover, they offer valuable insights for developing anti-corruption inter ventions that align with the practical realities of ethical decision-making in
Ghana’s public service.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Corruption, social-cultural factors, organizational factors, unethical behaviour
Citation
To cite this article: Mercy DeSouza, Erasmus Keli Swanzy & Maxwell Asumeng (15 Dec 2023): Should I Accept or Refute? Understanding the Socio-Organizational Factors Influencing Corruption in Ghana’s Public Service, Public Integrity, DOI: 10.1080/10999922.2023.229074