A management consultant and life coach, Stanley Okoh, has stated that a strong public service is critical for national development.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy as the head of civil service in Ghana’s formative years after independence, he said, government services were efficient and reliable but the situation was no longer the same.
The decline, he said, could be traced to a loss of commitment among public servants.
“Many believe that they are doing a favour when they deliver a public service rather than fulfilling their duty and this mindset undermines the very foundation of public service,” Mr Okoh said in an interview with the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of his latest book launch in Accra on Thursday, Sept 25.
He, therefore, called on current leaders to foster a culture of service among their teams, encouraging them to prioritise the needs of the public over personal gain.
“It is crucial for those in authority to mentor the next generation effectively. When managers leave, their legacy should be capable successors, not a struggling team,” the author, who retired as the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of the Millicom Africa Region, stated.
Book
Titled, “Get ahead, stay on track: Make things happen before they do”, the book is the second edition to be launched by the author after completely selling out the first edition which was first published in 2016.
The personal development book has 10 chapters with chapter nine focusing on various strategies to provide insights on transforming the country’s public sector into an efficient, effective, transparent and accountable one for improved service delivery and increased trust.
Drawing on the real-life experiences of the author, the book deftly weaves through various practical narratives and strategies in an attempt to give its readers particularly the youth and the public at large a comprehensive understanding of personal development.
Members of the Ghana Club, old students of Achimota School, and Mfantsipim Old Boys Association joined the launch which was chaired by Fritz Baffour, a former Minister of Information and former Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South.
Rationale
Mr Okoh, who has been involved in mentoring the youth both in Ghana and abroad, said the book was inspired by the need to provide the growing population with answers on how to prepare effectively for the future.
“It is the invaluable experience which I gained, sharing quality time with them, discussing their hopes and aspirations and occasionally helping to redirect their steps, that compelled me to document my recollections,” he added.
A personal development book, he said, could be “super” valuable for young people, offering guidance on self-awareness and self-improvement, goal-setting and the achievement of such goals, building confidence, assertiveness and resilience, managing emotions and relationships and developing productivity and time management.
He expressed the hope that the book would inspire, motivate and empower young people to take control of their lives and make positive changes to reach their full potential.
