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Mr Isaac Bampoe-Addo, the Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), has pushed for merit-based appointments in Ghana’s public sector through mandatory examination for political appointees. That, he noted, was a critical measure to uphold integrity, neutrality, and competence necessary for an effective public service, the very foundation of stable governance.
Mr Bampoe-Addo said this on Wednesday at the 14 th African Regional Conference of Public Service International (PSI) as trade union leaders converge on Ghana for Africa’s major union conference. The conference, held in Accra on the theme: “Quality Public Services for Dignity,” underscored the essential role of public sector workers, from healthcare to sanitation, in ensuring the moral contract between the state and its citizens is upheld.
He noted that the current system, where parliamentary vetting was the main check for ministerial and other high-level political appointments eroded professionalism in the public service.
Mr Bampoe-Addo recalled the time during Ghana’s pre-independence era when political appointees were required to pass examination on the Law of Thoughts, Law of Etiquette and Basic Law, before being conferred their positions. “Mandatory technical and ethical examinations for appointees, therefore, are seen as a modern-day necessity to verify competence and commitment, ensuring public service leadership is not merely a reward for political loyalty but a function of proven skill and integrity,” he said.
The General Secretary called for a competitive, transparent appoint in view of democratic governance and the fight against corruption. “By institutionalising an examination process, the Government could significantly restore public trust in its institutions and ensure the effectiveness of the nation’s welfare investments and climate adaptation efforts,” he said. He reaffirmed a shared commitment to building a professional, motivated, and dignified public service, where leadership is defined by merit, competence, and a genuine commitment to the populace. Mr Bampoe-Addo called on the Government to work collaboratively with organized labour to develop and implement these crucial reforms, ensuring that genuine change is done with workers and not over them. Ghana, as in many democracies, political loyalty often plays a significant role in high-level public sector appointments, including ministers and heads of agencies.
Critics often argue that this can lead to patronage, where individuals are appointed based on political connections rather than proven merit, competence, or professional expertise.
