Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has highlighted inadequate remuneration in public institutions as a major driver of corruption, urging policymakers to tackle the issue as part of broader governance reforms.
He also noted that rapid technological advancements and the increasing complexity of modern society have made corrupt practices more sophisticated.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, the former President cautioned that while science and technology continue to advance, some individuals misuse their intelligence and technical skills for personal gain rather than for societal benefit.
Dr. Kufuor stressed the need for stronger systems to detect and address corruption, warning that without constant improvements in institutional safeguards, individuals will continue to exploit loopholes.
“We are in the era of science and technology. Science keeps researching and refining things, and people who tend to be bright, not all of them will use their brilliance for fair and good purposes. So, sophistication is really deepening corrupt practices,” he said.
He added: “People will still try to get away with their smartness. A poor remuneration system, which our society somehow finds shy in tackling, is one of the sources of corruption, given our situation.”
The former President’s comments underscore the importance of addressing both institutional weaknesses and compensation structures as part of Ghana’s fight against corruption.
