Ghana’s Interior Ministry tops government performance index as Trade Ministry ranks last

A recent evaluation of 23 government ministries in Ghana has revealed stark disparities in performance, with the Ministry of the Interior topping the chart, while the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry lagged at the bottom. Conducted by the Africa Centre for Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment (ACEYE) in collaboration with Atlas Network, the Index of Government Institutions’ Performance Towards Economic Prosperity (IGIPTEP) assesses how efficiently government bodies function and contribute to economic growth.

The assessment revealed that 21 out of the 23 ministries scored above the 50% mark, with only two falling below this benchmark.

The Ministry of the Interior emerged as the top performer, scoring 80.26%, placing it in the 'very high performance' category. Following closely was the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, with a score of 72.8%, and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, scoring 66.02%. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources rounded out the top five, with scores of 65.42% and 64.82%, respectively.

Conversely, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry ranked last, with a score of 48.08%. Despite its strongest area being transparency and accountability, the ministry lagged significantly in service delivery quality (46.4%) and people and work efficiency (24%). The assessment highlighted documentation issues, staff training gaps, and ongoing concerns over transport fares and congestion in Accra.

Similarly, the Ministry of Transport, ranked 22nd with a score of 49.6%, struggled with transparency and workforce efficiency, scoring 40% and 24%, respectively. While it excelled in money management (66.67%) and service delivery quality (64%), persistent port clearance delays and limited public information on staff training added to its challenges.

This evaluation underscores the need for targeted improvements in workforce capacity and public accountability across various government institutions to enhance overall service delivery in Ghana.