Civil Service must work to redeem its image

In the latest Africa Integrity Indicator report (2016), Ghana's Civil Service was ranked as an institution that “lacks integrity”.

The Civil Service managed to score an abysmal 38 per cent in that regard; see our banner story.

According to the report, the factors accounting for this negative image include lack of formal rules or laws to prevent conflict of interest, nepotism, cronyism, and patronage in all branches of government. Besides, the report pointed out that civil servants were sometimes not appointed and evaluated according to professional criteria and competence.

This poor assessment score should be compelling enough to goad the Civil Service into action to put in measures to redeem its dented image and restore the confidence the public has reposed in it.

The issue of partisan politics involvement in the Civil Service is an overarching factor. The situation where every newly elected government changes key positions in the Civil Service takes away the impartiality and neutrality role expected of it. The Civil Service's role as the implementer of government policies, providing support and advising politicians/ ministers who head the different ministries whilst being loyal to the government of the day makes it imperative for it to maintain its independence in order to discharge this function with dignity, efficiency and effectiveness.

It be recalled that Public Agenda recently published a story titled “PETROLEUM MINISTRY VIOLATES MAHAMA'S CODE OF ETHICS' in which one Mr king A. Wellington, Communication Officer of the Ministry of Petroleum, was reported to have stated that that the Ellembelle constituency in the Western Region, have openly declared their support for President John Dramani Mahama.

That is one of the many examples of how certain civil servants abuse their office for political gains. Such an attitude is in direct contravention with the Civil Service rules and the recent Code of Ethics for Public Servants outdoored by President Mahama. However, our last checks at the Ministry indicate that no sanctions have been meted out to the said Communication officer.

Since the inception of the scorecard in 2012, Ghana has consistently scored low in the Civil Service integrity category, with 33 per cent in 2013, 38 per cent in 2014, 38 per cent in 2015 and 38 per cent again in 2016. The annual Auditor General's Report is replete with infractions by civil servants who almost always go unpunished; hence there is deterrence for others.

To address the above concerns, Public Agenda is of the view that the President's Code of Ethics as well as the rules governing the activities of Civil Service must be strictly enforced. Culprits who go contrary to the ethics and rules must be brought to book. Civil servants must be appointed base on qualification, experience and competence in their respective fields and not on political lines or nepotism.

Similarly, anybody who demonstrates lack of professionalism must be quickly dealt with in order to maintain the core values of integrity, impartiality, honesty and objectivity. With such an approach, stability and security would be promoted in the Civil Service and its image will remain intact without blemish to the admiration of all.