Head of Civil Service Calls for Reset in Public Service
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
The Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, has called for a major shift in the way Ghana’s civil service operates, urging public servants to embrace efficiency, innovation, accountability and technology to support the country’s sustainable development agenda.
Speaking at the 2026 Civil Service Week celebration and 2025 Awards in Accra, Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh said the government’s development priorities required a civil service that was responsive, professional and focused on delivering results for citizens.
He said recent visits to ministries were intended to strengthen collaboration between the Presidency and sector ministries, assess the readiness of institutions to implement government’s development policies and identify challenges requiring innovative solutions.
According to him, the engagements were also aimed at ensuring that public institutions were better positioned to respond to the changing needs of the country.
Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh said the theme for the celebration, “The Resetting Agenda for Sustainable Development in Ghana: The Civil Service’s Responsibility,” was particularly relevant to the country’s development priorities.
He said resetting the civil service should go beyond routine administrative practices and focus on improving systems, strengthening collaboration, embracing technology and continuously developing the skills and capacities of public servants.
“For the civil service, resetting means moving beyond business as usual to greater efficiency, innovation, accountability and resourcefulness,” he said.
The Head of the Civil Service stressed that citizens must remain at the centre of all public sector reforms, noting that the success of government policies and programmes depended largely on the commitment, competence and attitude of civil servants.
“We must therefore continue to uphold professionalism, integrity, accountability, innovation and a strong commitment to results, while placing the citizen at the centre of our work,” he said.
The celebration also honoured civil servants who had distinguished themselves through hard work, professionalism and commitment to national service.
Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh said the awards provided an opportunity to celebrate excellence and encourage a performance-driven culture across the service.
He further noted that recognition for meritorious performance had a legal basis under Section 88(1) of the Civil Service Act, 1993, Act 327. He, however, indicated that the provision required review and appealed for support to update the framework governing civil service awards.
