The Head of the Civil Service, Ghana, Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, has emphasised the importance of collaboration between Civil Service staff and political appointees in achieving the government's development agenda.
He said the two groups were mutually dependent and must work together to implement the government’s policies to achieve its promises made to Ghanaians.
Dr Aggrey-Darkoh told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra that whereas politicians provided strategic direction, civil servants brought neutral competence to implement policy intentions.
Such collaboration, he said, was essential in ensuring that the government’s policies and promises made to Ghanaians, which require a multi-stakeholder approach, were smoothly implemented, as it could not be done by one of the two groups alone.
“There is a need for synergy and collaboration between civil servants and politicians to drive development and solve complex problems.
With the increasing sophistication of societal problems, it is clear that no single group can tackle these challenges alone.
“Instead, all hands must be on deck and all stakeholders must be mobilised to harness ideas and expertise,” he said.
Dr Aggrey-Darkoh described the civil service as an administrative arm of government, leading the day-to-day work, which must not be overlooked by political authorities as they would always be important in the success story of their tenure in office.
Implementation of government policies
Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh assured that the service was committed to helping the government smoothly implement its policies at the various ministries, agencies and departments.
He emphasised that the service played a crucial role in ensuring that government policies were effectively implemented to achieve the desired outcomes.
He added that the service's role in policy implementation was critical and their commitment to excellence was essential in ensuring that government programmes were effective and efficient.
The head of the Civil Service urged Ghanaians to look forward to an effective and dedicated service in helping implement the government’s policies.
Civil Service reforms
Dr Aggrey-Darkoh also outlined his vision for a reformed Civil Service that would be adaptive, agile and productive.
He said his vision for a reformed Civil Service was centred on promoting a culture of professionalism, excellence and patriotism. He emphasised the need for civil servants to be loyal to the nation and to prioritise the national interest in their work.
The head of the Civil Service also highlighted the need for the service to be staffed with motivated and high-capacity personnel who were committed to serving the nation.
“The civil service, in pursuit of excellence and quality service delivery, has placed a premium on attracting and retaining top talent in the service.
The civil service should be able to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people and provide support to the government in delivering on its mandate,” he said.
