Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang says the success of government’s reset agenda will be judged by the quality of public services citizens receive every day, rather than by policies or announcements.
She noted that people’s experiences at hospitals, schools and public offices shape their perception of government, and urged public institutions to redesign services around citizens’ needs while addressing gaps in accessibility, fairness, efficiency and dignity.
The Vice President was speaking at the launch of a book tilted The Citizen Experience: A Reset for Superior Public and Civil Service Delivery, in Accra.
The book co-authored by Professor Robert Hinson and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, was described as more than an academic publication, as it offers practical solutions for improving accountability, governance and citizen participation.
Speakers at the launch expressed the hope that policymakers, public servants and citizens would use its recommendations to drive meaningful reforms and build a more responsive public service.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang reiterated that every unnecessary delay, long queue and confusing procedure continues to weaken public confidence in the state, hence efficiency must always be matched with equity and respect for citizens.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah said government legitimacy is strengthened or weakened by the quality of interactions citizens have with public institutions.
He called on state agencies to place citizens at the centre of governance, arguing that public institutions should be assessed by their accessibility, speed, fairness, consistency and the dignity with which they treat people.
Mr. Debrah urged public servants to see service as a noble responsibility and challenged leaders to build institutions that reward integrity, protect honest officers and deliver responsive services, particularly for the most vulnerable.
Renowned business leader Dr. Ishmael Yamson also called for a cultural reset within Ghana’s public service, saying the country’s governance challenges are rooted more in attitudes than institutional structures.
Founder of Ishmael Yamson and Associates, Dr. Ishmael Yamson said bureaucracy, weak accountability and corruption have eroded public trust, stressing that nearly seven decades after independence, Ghana can no longer blame colonial systems for persistent inefficiencies.
He described corruption as a shared problem involving both the public and private sectors, and called for honest leadership, stronger accountability and personal responsibility to drive meaningful reform.
The first autographed copy of the book was auctioned for one hundred thousand Ghana cedis, while additional copies are available at retail and wholesale prices.
Source: myxyzonline/Akora Kofi Darko
