Accra: Ghana's public sector reforms are set to receive a major boost through improved ICT infrastructure, enhanced coordination, and strengthened skilled labour to improve service delivery, accountability, and transparency.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State for Public Sector Reforms, announced that the framework for the National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS) II would prioritize digital transformation, including strengthening ICT systems and implementing gender-responsive reforms. She made these remarks during a National Consultation organized by the Public Sector Reform Secretariat to finalize an inclusive policy document for Cabinet approval.
Madam Akanvariba explained that the strategy aims to move beyond fragmented initiatives to establish a coordinated 'one-stop shop' for government services, invest in national fibre backbone infrastructure, and make digital record-keeping central to the reform agenda. In an interview, she emphasized that the reforms would incorporate a comprehensive gender strategy, particularly within Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), to improve women's access to ICT tools and services.
The Minister also highlighted concerns about the placement of skilled personnel, noting that while the public sector had a qualified workforce, many were not positioned effectively to maximize productivity. She called for a review of the practice where public servants exit office with changes in political administration under the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845), stressing the need to protect technocrats from political interference. "Most of the people working in the public sector are technocrats, and politicians should not intrude in their work. We must also review our hiring and firing processes as part of the reform discussions," she stated.
Madam Akanvariba assured that once Cabinet approved the final document, the government would mobilize the necessary resources to support its implementation despite current huge fiscal responsibilities.
Mr Joseph Abbey, Director of Policy, Planning, Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry for Public Sector Reforms, stated that NPSRS II builds on the first phase, which was supported by the World Bank and led to the retooling of 13 institutions, including the Births and Deaths Registry, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the Passport Office. He mentioned that the new strategy would operate under seven pillars, adding sustainable funding to the six pillars of the previous phase.
Mr Abbey further explained that the focus of the NPSRS II would be to scale up institutional capacity by equipping public sector organizations with advanced digital infrastructure to deliver faster and more efficient services to citizens and the private sector. The six pillars of the first phase included a citizen- and private sector-oriented public service, a capable and disciplined workforce, a strengthened regulatory framework, improved working conditions, enhanced local governance systems, and digitized public sector services.