Goal
Goal 16 aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.”
For Ghana, this means strengthening governance, reducing corruption, ensuring equal access to justice, and maintaining peace amidst regional instability. Key priorities include enhancing judicial efficiency, promoting transparency and accountability in public institutions, and protecting fundamental freedoms for all citizens.
Community Success
Key Statistics for SDG Goal 16 in Ghana
| SDG Indicator | Statistic (latest year) | Source & Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 16.4.2 – Arms traced to illicit origin or context | ~1.1 million small arms unaccounted for in circulation (2025) | 2025 VNR / National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons. Highlights a significant challenge with illicit arms, informing enhanced security and control measures. |
| 16.5.1 – Prevalence of bribery | 18.4% of public service users asked for/payed a bribe (2024) | Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). Shows a notable decline from previous years, reflecting anti-corruption efforts and improved governance. |
| 16.6.1 – Primary government expenditures as proportion of approved budget | 67.9% (2023) | Ministry of Finance. Indicates budget execution performance, highlighting areas for improving fiscal discipline and resource allocation efficiency. |
| 16.7.2 – Population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive | 13.5% (2024) | Afrobarometer / GSS. Reflects public perception of governance inclusivity, guiding efforts to enhance citizen engagement and trust in institutions. |
| 16.9.1 – Children under 5 with birth registration | 67.5% (2024) | Births and Deaths Registry, GSS. Shows progress toward universal legal identity, though gaps remain, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. |
| 16.10.2 – Legal guarantees for public access to information | Right to Information Act (Act 989) in force (2019-2024) | RTI Commission. Demonstrates a strong legal framework for transparency and accountability in public administration. |
| 16.a.1 – Existence of independent national human rights institution | CHRAJ active and in compliance with Paris Principles (2024) | Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). Confirms the institutional foundation for protecting human rights and addressing grievances. |
| Target | Indicators | |
|---|---|---|
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16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere |
16.1.1
Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age
16.1.2
Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause
16.1.3
Proportion of population subjected to (a) physical violence, (b) psychological violence and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months
16.1.4
Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone around the area they live after dark |
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16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children |
16.2.1
Proportion of children aged 1–17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month
16.2.2
Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age and form of exploitation
16.2.3
Proportion of young women and men aged 18–29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18 |
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16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all |
16.3.1
Proportion of victims of (a) physical, (b) psychological and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized conflict resolution mechanisms
16.3.2
Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population
16.3.3
Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism |
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16.4 By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime |
16.4.1
Total value of inward and outward illicit financial flows (in current United States dollars)
16.4.2
Proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments |
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16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms |
16.5.1
Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials, during the previous 12 months
16.5.2
Proportion of businesses that had at least one contact with a public official and that paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials during the previous 12 months |
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16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels |
16.6.1
Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget, by sector (or by budget codes or similar)
16.6.2
Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services |
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16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels |
16.7.1
Proportions of positions in national and local institutions, including (a) the legislatures; (b) the public service; and (c) the judiciary, compared to national distributions, by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups
16.7.2
Proportion of population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group |
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16.8 Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance |
16.8.1
Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations |
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16.9 By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration |
16.9.1
Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority, by age |
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16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements |
16.10.1
Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months
16.10.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information |
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16.a Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime |
16.a.1
Existence of independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles |
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16.b Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development |
16.b.1
Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law |
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Press Freedom:
Ghana is ranked #62 out of 180 countries (2024) by Reporters Without Borders. While it has declined recently due to journalist harassment, it remains one of the highest in West Africa, indicating a relatively free and vibrant media landscape crucial for accountability.
Summary:
The data reveals that Ghana maintains relative peace and a functioning democracy but faces significant challenges with corruption, delays in the justice system, and ensuring universal access to legal rights. Strengthening institutional integrity, improving judicial efficiency, and ensuring equal access to justice for all citizens are critical for fully achieving this goal.