President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the need for governments to treat public service as a fundamental human right rather than an act of charity.
Speaking at the opening of the 14th Regional Conference of Public Service International (PSI) in Accra, he said access to essential public services such as healthcare, education, water, sanitation, justice, and security forms the foundation of human dignity and social justice.
“Public service is not charity. It is a human right. It is a cornerstone of inclusive growth and the most enduring symbol of social justice,” President Mahama stated.
He noted that the theme of the conference, Quality Public Service for Dignity, reflected the moral contract between the state and its citizens; the assurance that every person, regardless of income or status, has access to the basic conditions that uphold their dignity.
The President emphasised that when public services are strong, societies flourish, but when they fail, inequality deepens, trust erodes, and democracy weakens. He therefore called for continued efforts to protect, empower, and modernise the public service rather than weaken or privatise it.
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Under Ghana’s Reset Agenda, he said, government is working to restore trust in public institutions by strengthening the civil and local government service, expanding digital governance, and enforcing accountability across ministries, departments, and agencies.
President Mahama also highlighted the importance of collaboration with organised labour, stressing that “genuine reform only succeeds when it is done with workers and not over them.”
Touching on the pressures facing African economies, he cautioned against the increasing commercialisation of essential public services, which he said strips citizens of their dignity.
“When healthcare becomes a privilege, when education becomes a luxury, and when clean water is unavailable, we strip our people of their dignity,” he said, urging stakeholders to resist the trend of treating public services as commodities.
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He further called for renewed commitment to investing in the welfare and training of public servants, promoting gender equality, and leveraging digital technology to improve service delivery.
Mahama described public servants, from teachers and nurses to local government officers, as the true foundation of national progress.
“The strength of our nation depends not on the size of our budgets, but on the quality and integrity of those who serve within our public institutions,” he said.
Declaring the conference open, the President urged delegates to reaffirm their shared commitment to building a professional, motivated, and dignified public service that serves everyone.
“When public servants thrive, our nations prosper. When they are demoralised or demotivated, our societies are weakened,” he concluded.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
