{
  "id": 308207,
  "title": "‘Bribery is a culture problem, not a salary problem’ – Kofi Bentil",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/bribery-is-a-culture-problem-not-a-salary-problem-kofi-bentil",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T11:32:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/bribery-is-a-culture-problem-not-a-salary-problem-kofi-bentil/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kofi Bentil, a senior lawyer and Vice President of IMANI Africa, has spoken out about Ghana's ongoing bribery issue, stating it is not merely a matter of public officials' salaries. In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Mr. Bentil emphasized the need for a multifaceted approach to combat bribery, which includes strict enforcement measures and the depersonalisation of government services. He highlighted that bribery is deeply ingrained in the delivery of government services, stemming from the necessity for citizens to physically interact with officials for basic services. According to Mr. Bentil, digitising government services can significantly curb bribery opportunities, as it removes the need for face-to-face encounters, where officials might demand or solicit unofficial payments. He pointed out that Ghana already possesses the technological infrastructure to facilitate such digitisation through the Ghana Card system. He advocated for expanding digital accessibility to services like driver’s licences and passports, suggesting that with the right digital systems, citizens could obtain these services online without the need for multiple office visits. Mr. Bentil believes that such technological solutions are within Ghana's reach and could substantially reduce bribery. He stressed that tackling bribery requires a shift not only in individual behaviour but also in the systems that facilitate corrupt practices.",
  "summary": "Kofi Bentil, a senior lawyer and Vice President of IMANI Africa, has argued that Ghana's bribery problem is not solely due to public officials' salaries, but rather a deeply ingrained culture within the delivery of government services. In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile, Bentil emphasized the need for strict enforcement along with depersonalisation of government services to reduce bribery opportunities. He pointed out that many bribery instances arise from citizens needing to interact directly with officials for basic services, and suggested that digital systems could help eliminate these opportunities by reducing face-to-face interactions. Bentil highlighted that Ghana already has the technological foundation to reduce such interactions through the Ghana Card system, which could be expanded to provide digital access to services like driver’s licence and passport applications. He believes changing both individual behaviour and the systems that create corruption opportunities is essential for tackling the bribery problem effectively.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Ghana’s democracy is under a ‘creeping’ threat – Kofi Bentil warns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/ghanas-democracy-is-under-a-creeping-threat-kofi-bentil-warns",
        "published": "2026-08-08T09:20:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}