Vice President Urges Civil Servants to Renew Commitment to Excellence
By Esther Korantemaa Offei
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged civil servants to renew their commitment to professionalism, integrity and excellence, stressing that a strong and responsive civil service is essential to achieving Ghana’s sustainable development goals.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the 2026 Civil Service Week celebration and 2025 Awards in Accra, the Vice President said the civil service remained a critical institution through which government policies and programmes were translated into tangible benefits for citizens.
She said the service provided continuity across political administrations, preserved institutional knowledge and supplied the technical expertise required to implement government policies in areas including health, education, agriculture, infrastructure and economic development.
“The quality of the civil service has a direct bearing on the quality of services our citizens receive,” Professor Opoku-Agyemang said.
She said the government’s resetting agenda for sustainable development required a professional, innovative and accountable civil service capable of supporting strong institutions, responsible resource management, social inclusion and opportunities for future generations.
According to her, sustainable development went beyond economic growth and required institutions that could effectively translate sound policies and public investments into improved living conditions for Ghanaians.
The Vice President said government was committed to strengthening the civil service and improving public service delivery through a series of reforms designed to make public institutions more efficient and responsive.
She disclosed that government was advancing the National Public Sector Reform Strategy, with an oversight committee inaugurated in June to guide its finalisation and implementation. The strategy, she said, was intended to address persistent challenges affecting efficiency and service delivery across the public sector.
She also announced that work was underway on a new national emoluments policy and a framework for an independent emoluments commission, aimed at promoting fairness, transparency and sustainability in public sector remuneration.
“These are not reforms for their own sake,” she said. “They are ultimately measured by whether our institutions work better, public servants are better equipped, whether they perform their duties better, and whether citizens receive better services.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also congratulated civil servants who were honoured for their outstanding performance, describing the awards as an important tool for encouraging excellence and building a performance-driven culture.
She said the achievements of award recipients reflected discipline, integrity, innovation and perseverance, while urging other civil servants to emulate their example.
She acknowledged that the progress of the civil service depended not only on award winners but on every officer who performed their duties diligently and served the public with integrity.
“No institution is sustained by its award winners alone; it is sustained by all of us,” she said.
The Vice President urged civil servants to fully support the resetting Ghana agenda by strengthening collaboration across ministries, departments and agencies and placing citizens at the centre of decision-making.
