Bribery is a systems problem, not a pay problem – IMANI Vice President argues for digital overhaul

Ghana's bribery epidemic is rooted in entrenched institutional culture rather than inadequate civil service wages, according to Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, the respected policy think tank. Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile, Bentil argued that simply raising salaries will not address corruption that has become woven into how government services are delivered across the country.

The senior lawyer identified a critical vulnerability: the requirement for citizens to interact face-to-face with officials to access essential services. This direct contact creates the exact conditions corrupt officials exploit to solicit or demand bribes, he explained. By removing these unnecessary personal interactions through digital systems, Ghana could dramatically reduce bribery opportunities whilst improving service delivery.

The Ghana Card as a foundation for digital transformation

Bentil highlighted that Ghana already possesses the technological infrastructure needed to implement this change. The Ghana Card system, he argued, provides a robust national identification foundation that could authenticate citizens and enable entirely online processing of government services.

Driver's licence applications, passport renewals, and similar services should be accessible through websites where citizens submit information digitally and receive processed documents by mail, Bentil suggested. This approach is already functioning successfully in numerous countries and does not require technological innovation—only political will and institutional commitment. "I have seen that happen elsewhere. It wasn't rocket science," he stated.

The vision involves leveraging Ghana Card data to verify identity and process applications without requiring applicants to visit government offices repeatedly. Once a citizen's information is verified through the card system, officials can process requests remotely and securely.

Why this matters for Ghana

The timing of Bentil's intervention is significant. The Ghana Police Service, particularly its Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), has become synonymous with bribery in public discourse. Citizens frequently report being solicited for unofficial payments during routine traffic interactions and licensing procedures—exactly the transactions Bentil identifies as vulnerable to corruption.

Beyond the police, bribery permeates multiple government institutions, undermining public trust and efficiency. A culture where officials view themselves as doing favours rather than delivering citizens' rights has normalised corrupt exchanges. This cultural normalisation makes legislative or salary-based interventions insufficient; structural change is required.

Bentil's framework suggests that anti-corruption efforts should prioritise systems redesign alongside enforcement. While the government has invested in digital initiatives like the Ghana Card, translating these into depersonalised service delivery remains incomplete. Implementing his vision would require coordination across multiple agencies—the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, the Passport Office, the Police, and others—to redesign workflows and invest in integrated digital platforms.

The argument also carries implications for Ghana's broader development agenda. Reducing bribery strengthens the rule of law, improves citizen confidence in government, and reduces the hidden tax corruption imposes on business and ordinary transactions. It supports Ghana's competitiveness and attracts investment by signalling institutional reliability.

Bentil's emphasis on culture change reflects growing recognition among Ghana's policy community that technical solutions alone fail without addressing the behavioural and institutional norms that sustain corruption. Combining strict enforcement, digital depersonalisation, and cultural messaging about service as public duty rather than personal opportunity may offer a more comprehensive pathway than previous approaches.