Remove political factionalism in public institutions — Engineering institution

The President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Ghana (IET-GH), Henry Kwadwo Boateng, has raised concerns about the growing influence of political factions in the public sector.

That, he said, had an impact on productivity, fairness and morale. 

He, therefore, stressed the need for the issue to be addressed urgently to safeguard the integrity and efficiency of public institutions.

“The rise of political causes/factions within public institutions has fostered unprofessional behaviours such as gossiping, spreading falsehoods and sidelining competent workers. 

“These practices undermine teamwork, reduce productivity and create discriminatory environments,” Mr Boateng told the Daily Graphic. 

He said issues such as promotions and appointments should be based on qualifications, performance, professionalism and competence rather than political allegiances. 

The current system, which rewarded political loyalty over merit, he said demoralised diligent employees, fostered dissatisfaction and hampered organisational effectiveness.

He said favouritism and political alignment eroded the morale of hardworking individuals, fostering a culture where political connections outweigh genuine contributions and professional excellence.

Mr Boateng, therefore, called on the new government to address the pressing issue.

Promotions 

For instance, he said President John Mahama must ensure that promotions and appointments were conducted fairly and based on merit and measurable performance.

He also emphasised the need for urgent reforms to the Procurement Act, Act 663, as amended, adding that the abuse of single-source and restrictive procurement processes must be addressed as those practices had become breeding grounds for corruption, as consistently highlighted in the Auditor-General's reports.

Mr Boateng underscored the need for policy reform and stressed the need for the implementation of clear and transparent policies for promotions and appointments based on performance metrics.

Regulations 

Regulation, he said, was also important and advocated the enforcement of strict rules to eliminate political interference in the civil and public sectors.

Moreover, he said there should also be anti-corruption measures by strengthening accountability mechanisms, particularly in procurement processes to curb corruption effectively.

“Addressing these issues is critical to fostering a fair, efficient and productive public sector that prioritises national development over political interests.

Immediate action will safeguard the integrity of public institutions and inspire confidence among employees and stakeholders,” he said.