Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has warned that as societies become more sophisticated—especially in the age of science and technology—corrupt practices are also evolving, with some individuals using their intelligence and knowledge of systems to avoid accountability.
Speaking in an interview, the former leader said advances in science and technology have brought enormous benefits to society. However, he noted that the same progress has also created new opportunities for wrongdoing.
According to him, while innovation continues to improve systems and processes, not everyone uses their intelligence for positive purposes. Instead, some people exploit their knowledge and creativity to manipulate systems meant to promote transparency and accountability.
“People may steal, commit wrongdoing and then try to get away with it through their smartness,” he said.
Despite the persistence of corruption, Mr Kufuor argued that the public’s response should not necessarily be described as tolerance. In his view, what many citizens feel is closer to resignation—a sense that there is little they can do to change the situation.
“To me, it is not tolerance. It is resignation. People feel they cannot find a way around the situation,” he explained.
Mr Kufuor said society must continue to probe and develop effective ways to expose and deal with individuals who exploit systems for personal gain.
He also pointed to two major drivers of corruption within the system, highlighting poor remuneration in the public sector as a key factor.
Using Ghana as an example, the former president noted that many highly trained public officials, including long-serving directors in government ministries, earn salaries that do not reflect the weight of their responsibilities or current economic realities.
Such officials, he said, often have families to support, including children whose education must be funded, while also meeting obligations within extended family structures.
In many cases, the income they receive is insufficient to meet these demands, creating financial pressure that can push some individuals toward unethical behaviour.
Mr Kufuor explained that this sometimes manifests in bureaucratic delays—commonly known as red tape—especially in licensing and regulatory processes.
Applications that should normally be processed within a few days may take several months, he said, leaving frustrated applicants with little choice but to offer inducements—popularly known as “brown envelopes”—to speed things up.
According to him, the problem has spread across several sectors, including the police service, the courts, politics and even academia. He added that low salaries among some law enforcement officers also make them more susceptible to corrupt practices.
Beyond issues of remuneration, Mr Kufuor said the country’s natural resource wealth has also contributed to corruption challenges.
Referring to Ghana’s vast mineral resources, he cited a well-known political remark that the country “sits on gold and yet remains poor,” highlighting the contradiction between resource abundance and the persistent economic difficulties faced by many citizens.