President John Dramani Mahama has urged the public sector to embrace professionalism, innovation, and transparency as he outlined a renewed transformation agenda anchored on efficient governance, gender inclusion, and the 24-Hour Economy Program.
Speaking at the 12th Annual Conference of Chairpersons of Governing Boards/Councils, Chief Directors, and Chief Executives of the Public Service of Ghana, held at the Volta Serene Hotel, the President reflected on his past engagement with the public service and called for a fundamental reset of national systems.
“During my first incarnation as President, in 2015, I had the opportunity to address this august assembly. And now, in 2025, as President of the Republic, in our second phase of national transformation, I have the honour again to stand before you,” he said.
“Every time I stand before this esteemed Assembly, I am reminded that the public service is the heartbeat of our governance and our administration, the institutional engine that breathes life into the policies we make as government.”
President Mahama commended the theme of the conference, “Strengthening Public Sector Leadership and Enhancing Service Delivery,” noting that it aligns perfectly with his vision of “resetting Ghana’s DNA”, a vision rooted in restoring efficiency, integrity, and professionalism across all sectors of national life.
“When I speak of a reset, it’s not mere sloganeering; it’s a solemn call to action,” he said. “It’s about restoring the fundamentals of governance, rebuilding public trust, and readjusting our institutions to serve citizens with fairness, transparency, and a sense of purpose.”
The President emphasized that sustainable development requires not only political will but also a capable, ethical, and empowered civil service that can execute government policies effectively.
He identified one major challenge confronting Ghana’s public administration, the absence of a centralized, integrated personnel database for public sector employees.
“You can’t understand why, in the 21st century, government does not have a proper database of the people it employs,” he said.
“That is why nurses and teachers have to sit for months unpaid as files crawl through a slow bureaucratic process.”
To address this, President Mahama announced decisive steps to integrate all public service institutions into the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS).
“I am instructing all public service institutions, whether subvented or not, to be fully integrated into the HRMIS,” he declared.
“This will establish the HRMIS as the single authoritative source of personnel data, ensuring accountability, transparency, and efficiency in human resource management across our entire public sector.”
24-Hour Economy as Cornerstone of Transformation
President Mahama also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a productive, inclusive economy through the 24-Hour Economy Program, describing it as a cornerstone of Ghana’s transformation agenda.
“The 24-Hour Economy Program represents a bold and pragmatic shift from a raw materials-based economy to a productive, value-added, and globally competitive nation,” he said.
He explained that the initiative will run through four subprograms, Grow24, Make24, Aspire24, and Fund24, to optimize the use of land, labour, capital, and time, boost industrial production, and create over 1.7 million jobs within four years.
The President added that the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill has been submitted to Parliament for consideration, commending institutions such as the Passport Office and Ports and Harbours Authority for adopting 24-hour operations ahead of the bill’s passage.
“I urge all public sector institutions to integrate the 24-Hour Economy into their operational and strategic frameworks and develop sector-specific implementation plans to ensure its success,” he said.
Championing Gender Equality in Public Sector Leadership
President Mahama also used the occasion to call for gender balance in governance, setting an ambitious target of 50 percent women representation in public service leadership by 2030.
He commended Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as a beacon of female excellence and leadership, describing her as “a symbol of brilliance, integrity, and compassion.”
“Her service continues to inspire millions of young women across the country,” the President said.
A Call to Duty
President Mahama concluded his address with a rallying call to public servants to uphold integrity and serve with renewed commitment.
“Our nation stands at the threshold of transformation,” he declared.
“The responsibility to make that transformation real lies not only with government but with each of you, the leaders who drive the machinery of state.”
“Let us reaffirm our shared commitment to a professional, transparent, and people-centered public service that delivers on the promise of good governance and promotes the well-being of all Ghanaians.”
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
