Civil Service must put citizens at centre of decision-making – Vice President

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on civil servants to prioritize professionalism, collaboration, and innovation in order to enhance public service delivery. She emphasized that the success of government policies and programs hinges on the Civil Service's ability to convert them into tangible outcomes for citizens.

During the 2025 Civil Service Awards ceremony, held to conclude the 2026 Civil Service Week Celebration in Accra, she urged civil servants to reaffirm their dedication to professionalism, enhance cooperation among ministries, departments, and agencies, and prioritize citizens in decision-making processes.

The awards recognized exceptional civil servants and institutions for their achievements during the specified period and their contributions to the Civil Service and national development. Mrs Wilhelmina Asamoah, Chief Director of the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, was named the Overall Best Performing Chief Director. The Vice President highlighted the Civil Service's crucial role as the bridge between the government and the populace, providing steadfastness across political administrations and the essential expertise needed to implement government policies.

She expressed the government's commitment to reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and responsiveness of public institutions, citing the National Public Sector Reform Strategy 2 and initiatives to enhance public sector remuneration and financial management. These reforms are not undertaken merely for their own sake; they are evaluated based on their effectiveness in improving institutions, equipping public servants, enhancing their performance, and delivering better services to citizens.

The Vice President expressed congratulations to the award recipients and encouraged them, along with other civil servants, to uphold integrity, excellence, and innovation. Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, Head of the Civil Service, noted that the awards have a legal foundation under Section 88(1) of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (Act 327), which provides for awards for meritorious performance.

He encouraged officers to shift from routine methods to resourcefulness, move from working in isolation to fostering collaboration, and transition from process-driven services to citizen-focused service delivery. He concluded that the true measure of the Civil Service's success is not just the work undertaken but the quality of services provided and the impact made on the citizens of the republic.