Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has acknowledged and hailed the vital work of Ghana's public service workers, reiterating their dedication to nation building. He made these remarks at the opening of the Public Service International (PSI) 14th Regional Conference for Africa and Arab Countries (AFRECON 2025) in Accra, themed 'Quality Public Service for Dignity'.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama emphasized the importance of public sector workers, highlighting their role in maintaining the fundamental structure of their societies. He noted that under Ghana's Reset Agenda, the national renewal vision aims to restore trust in public institutions by ensuring public service efficiency, integrity, and a citizen-centered approach.
The President detailed ongoing reforms, which include strengthening civil and local government services, expanding digital governance, and enforcing performance accountability across ministries, departments, and agencies. He mentioned the introduction of a new public service performance management framework and the full operationalization of the human resource management information system, focusing on training, ethics, and merit-based advancement.
President Mahama expressed the government's commitment to collaborating with unions to achieve an effective public service that reflects the values of justice, fairness, and respect for human dignity. He asserted that as Ghana transitions towards a 24-Hour Economy, public service remains crucial for this transformation, requiring efficient and responsive institutions, around-the-clock hospital operations, and seamless customs clearance.
He advocated for a new social agreement between the government, labor, and citizens, emphasizing a partnership founded on fairness, productivity, and mutual respect. The strategy involves working collaboratively with organized labor to develop reforms rather than imposing them, as genuine reform succeeds when done in partnership with workers.
Addressing challenges across Africa, President Mahama highlighted the strain on public services due to debts, economic shocks, climate change, and the increasing commercialization of essential services. He argued against treating public services as commodities, asserting that access to health care, education, and clean water should not be privileges, as these are essential for maintaining human dignity.
Ghana continues to advocate for equitable, people-centered public systems aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063. President Mahama stated that public service is a human right and a cornerstone of inclusive growth, symbolizing social justice.
The PSI conference, he noted, offers an opportunity to rethink the future of public service in Africa. The President praised PSI for its relentless advocacy, ensuring that labor dignity, fair wages, occupational safety, and workers' rights remain central to public discourse worldwide.
Madam Britta Lejon, President of PSI, highlighted the role of public services in ensuring societal smoothness, with PSI members including health workers, emergency services, water and energy workers, sanitation workers, teachers, and administrators working tirelessly behind the scenes.
Dr. Isaac Bampoe-Addo, Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association Ghana (CLOGSAG), remarked that quality public services for dignity are rooted in the presumed anonymity, neutrality, and feminism of public services.