Ex-Prez. Kufuor links low public sector pay to corruption, calls for salary reforms

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s public sector salary structure, arguing that low remuneration for government officials contributes significantly to corruption.

Speaking in an interview on the AM Show, the former president said the current pay system for civil servants and political office holders is unrealistic, creating conditions where some public officials may view corruption as a means of coping with financial pressures.

According to him, strengthening governance requires paying public servants competitively while strictly punishing those who engage in corrupt practices.

Lessons from Singapore

Mr Kufuor referenced the governance philosophy of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of Singapore, who argued that ministers and senior government officials should earn salaries comparable to top executives in the corporate sector in order to attract and retain highly skilled professionals.

“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.

He suggested that Ghana’s top political offices are significantly underpaid when compared with the level of responsibility, expertise and decision-making required.

Pay Must Be Matched With Accountability

Despite advocating higher salaries, the former president stressed that improved remuneration must be accompanied by strict accountability measures.

“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.

Long-Standing Debate

Discussions about public sector wages have persisted in Ghana for years, particularly following the introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure in 2010.

The policy aimed to address salary disparities across the public sector, but critics say it has not fully resolved concerns about fairness, competitiveness and motivation within government institutions.

Mr Kufuor, who served two terms as president from 2001 to 2009 under the New Patriotic Party, said Ghana must rethink how it compensates public servants if it hopes to reduce corruption and improve efficiency in public administration.