'Chief Directors manage over $1 million but earn just $400' – Former Civil Service head

Former Head of the Civil Service of Ghana, Dr Alex Glover-Quartey, has argued that poorly remunerating senior public officials while entrusting them with substantial public funds creates conditions that could encourage corruption and undermine accountability.

He believes the government must offer competitive salaries to Chief Directors and other senior public servants if it expects them to manage public resources responsibly.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster Kafui Dey, Dr Glover-Quartey recalled how he once engaged representatives of the World Bank and the United Kingdom over the salaries paid to Chief Directors during his time as head of the Civil Service.

Head of Civil Service calls for effective policy implementation

He said he proposed a monthly salary of approximately $2,500 for the officials, but the representatives were initially surprised by the amount.

According to him, he questioned the logic of entrusting a Chief Director with more than $1 million to manage while paying the official about $400 a month.

“And they looked shocked. And I said, 'Look, you are giving the Chief Director of a ministry over a million dollars to manage.' And you are paying him $400 a month. Is it wisdom? It's madness,” he recounted.

Dr Glover-Quartey argued that Ghana could not expect public officials to manage large sums of money responsibly while paying them what he described as inadequate salaries.

“You cannot continue to pay the pittance that we pay our civil servants and expect them to manage such huge amounts and not touch them,” he said.

He acknowledged that the government could argue that the country does not generate enough revenue to pay public servants higher salaries. However, he maintained that authorities should first make efforts to mobilise the resources needed to improve their remuneration.

“So my response was, start by looking for the money to pay them and expect a reciprocity,” he said.

He also questioned the practice of providing official vehicles and other privileges to public servants, suggesting that officials should purchase and maintain their own vehicles from their salaries.

“If you don't want a car and a bicycle, you can go and live in Buko if that is your choice. You can ride a horse to the office, but you are giving enough money to be able to do whatever you want to do,” he said.

Dr Glover-Quartey further argued that allowances for clothing, telephone services and other personal expenses should be reconsidered as part of broader remuneration reforms.

JKB/BAI

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