A new social agreement between government, labour and citizens is needed, founded on fairness, productivity and mutual respect.
Government will work collaboratively with organised labour to develop these reforms rather than impose them on workers.
President John Dramani Mahama stated this at the opening of the 14th Regional Conference of Public Service International in Accra on Wednesday.
He emphasized that genuine reform only succeeds when it is done with workers and not over them.
“As Ghana moves towards a 24-hour economy, the public service remains the driving force behind this transformation. This calls for a new social agreement between government, labor and citizens, a partnership that is founded on fairness, productivity and mutual respect,” he said.
“Our strategy, therefore, is to work collaboratively with organized labor to develop reforms rather than impose them. Because genuine reform only succeeds when it is done with workers and not over them.”
The President explained that a 24-hour economy relies on efficient and responsive public institutions, hospitals that operate around the clock, ports and customs offices that clear goods smoothly and seamlessly, and local assemblies that provide services without obstruction and delay.
Quality of Public Services Linked to Human Dignity
President Mahama stated that the quality of public services is directly linked to the quality of human dignity.
He explained that public service is about the moral contract between the state and its citizens, ensuring that every citizen, regardless of income or status, has access to basic conditions that uphold their human dignity.
“That is education, healthcare, water, sanitation, justice and security. When public services are strong, societies flourish. When public services fail, inequality deepens, trust erodes and the foundations of our democracy are weakened,” President Mahama declared.
He noted that throughout Ghana’s history, the nation’s progress has been anchored on the dedication of public servants, including teachers, nurses, engineers, administrators, judges and police officers who keep the nation functioning from day to day.
The President recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the true frontline of national survival was not in corporate boardrooms, but in hospitals, classrooms and local government offices.
“These are the people who keep our nation running. These are the people who keep our nation united, often with limited resources but endless dedication. And that is why we must continue to protect, empower and modernize the public service, not weaken or privatize it,” he stated.
Under Ghana’s Reset Agenda, President Mahama said government’s vision for national renewal focuses on restoring trust in public institutions and ensuring that public service embodies efficiency, integrity and a citizen-centered approach.
The reforms include a new public service performance management framework, the full operationalization of the Human Resource Management Information System and a renewed focus on training, ethics and merit-based advancement.
President Mahama warned against the trend of treating public services as commodities, stating that when healthcare becomes a privilege, when education becomes a luxury and when clean water is unavailable, people are stripped of their dignity.
“Public service is not charity. It is a human right. It is a cornerstone of inclusive growth and the most enduring symbol of social justice,” he declared.
The 14th Regional Conference of Public Service International, themed “Quality Public Service for Dignity,” brings together public service workers from across the region to discuss the future of public service in Africa.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
