Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for an increase in public sector salaries in Ghana, arguing that low wages for government officials contribute significantly to corruption.
According to him, improving governance requires paying public servants fairly while enforcing stringent penalties for those who still engage in corrupt practices.
During an interview on The AM Show, former President John Agyekum Kufuor stated that the current salary structure for civil servants and political office holders is unrealistic, creating conditions where corruption may become a survival strategy rather than an isolated act of misconduct.
The former president referred to Lee Kuan Yew, who argued that ministers and senior public officials should earn salaries comparable to those of top corporate executives to attract and retain the best talent in government.
“The people I used to fashion these policies are as good as the people in the corporate world getting fat salaries—so they must be paid like the people in the corporate world,” Mr. Kufuor quoted Lee Kuan Yew as saying.
“When you choose to be in the public sector, to be well-paid, and you allow yourself to be tempted into red tape and corruption—and they catch you—some of the worst punishments would be visited on you,” he said.
He indicated that Ghana’s top political office holders are significantly underpaid relative to the level of responsibility and expertise required, stressing that better salaries must be matched with strict accountability measures.