A prominent member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah, has raised alarm over the role that low public sector wages play in perpetuating corruption in Ghana.
Speaking at the Election and Anti-Corruption Forum at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on November 14, 2024, Jantuah argued that insufficient salaries among public servants are one of the key drivers of unethical behaviour in government institutions.
Jantuah explained that when public sector salaries are too low, employees are more likely to seek alternative sources of income, often through corrupt practices.
“My salary isn’t enough; it doesn’t suffice for my expenses. A businessman walks in and offers something, would I not take it? That has to be addressed,” Jantuah stated.
The politician also highlighted other contributing factors to the ongoing corruption problem, including political patronage, weak legal frameworks, and the lack of transparency in procurement processes.
“The culture of political patronage; do we not see it today? We have to discuss it and go deep into it. The weak legal framework within our anti-corruption institutions and the question of their ineffectiveness. Ain’t they all sitting in the room here? Do we not hear of them? Are they strong enough to handle corruption? They are not,” he added.
Jantuah also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in government procurement, which he believes incentivises politicians to seek power for financial gain.
“Is it not a challenge? Do people not fight to be ministers or whatever to get posts because of procurement?” he asked.
In response to these challenges, Jantuah proposed a comprehensive approach to tackling corruption. He announced that the CPP would organise a national anti-corruption summit within the first 90 days of their tenure in parliament, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including citizens.
“During the first 90 days in parliament, the CPP will hold a corruption summit that will engage all stakeholders, including the people, because in most cases, they are left out,” he said.
By linking the need for anti-corruption reforms to tangible issues like wage policy and institutional effectiveness, Mr. Jantuah argued that Ghana’s approach to combating corruption must evolve to address the deeper, structural motivations behind the problem.