Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo has revealed government’s six-pillar strategy for public sector reforms, expected to transform the sector and make it more efficient and effective to the needs of the citizenry.
The six-pillar strategy document, which will be under the Senior Minister’s supervision has been signed and is awaiting Cabinet approval.
The key areas of the strategy include; Citizens and Private Sector-Focused Public Sector, a Strengthened Public Sector Regulatory Framework, and a Capable and Disciplined Work Force;
Other areas are; Modernized and Improved Work Conditions, Strengthened Local Governance Structures, and Digitized Public Sector Services and Systems.
‘’Most of the public sector services are to be digitized and adequate professional training in change management and ethics are to implemented across board with this document,’’ Osafo Maafo explained.
He made this known at the sixth edition of the Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) on September 4, in Accra, under the theme; ‘Building a competitive economy for sustainable growth.’
President Akufo-Addo, last month launched the National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS) 2018–2023 which is aimed at enhancing public service delivery to citizens and the private sector.
The new reform strategy, became necessary due to the inability of past reform initiatives to fully achieve their intended objectives.
Ghana’s public sector, Osafo-Maafo revealed, has experienced worsening conditions which has had an effect on the private sector.
‘’Ghana’s economy has experienced inconsistent growth in its development over the years and despite progress at certain times, it has failed to consolidate the gains,’’ he added.
The Senior Minister said government will, in the coming months, establish the Fiscal Responsibility Act Council to implement the Fiscal Responsibility Act yet to be enacted.
The Act, is to ensure government pegs its deficit to a maximum of 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Osafo-Maafo assured of government’s commitment to combating unproductive conduct in the public sector such as corruption, absenteeism and ineptitude, which has led to the loss of confidence and trust in the public sector.
The two-day Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) will entreat stakeholders, policy leaders and government officials to deliberate on various measures and policy directions to help sustain and enable a competitive economy for viable growth.
Areas to be discussed at the forum will include; Banking and Finance Manufacturing, Agriculture, Technology and Fintech, Tourism, Aviation.
By Mawuli Y. Ahorlumegah
