Lazy Public Servants

President John Dramani Mahama Of Ghana

President John Mahama has charged his first batch of anointed ministers during a swearing in ceremony to demonstrate “leadership firmly but in a polite manner” because the people that the ministers are going to manage and lead are “lazy”.

The main thrust of the President's charge is money. The state is spending more on these “lazy public servants” and not getting her money's worth.

I don't think the President is serious about this. I think it was just one of those occasions that a President is expected to say something, so he just decided to sound populist. Almost every right thinking Ghanaian will agree with the president on this one on the surface.

Deep down, the President and his ministers do not have the audacity to even enforce anything that will improve efficiency and productivity in the public sector as is. According to the President there is a public sector mantra which says that “this is how it is always done”.

What is the President's vision to replace this mantra? What new structures are or will be in place for public servants to change their culture, attitudes and ways of working?

What new systems are going to be in place to change the old order of things? You do not expect these people to work with weak and obsolete tools, weak structures, and archaic knowledge and produce different outcome?

Just appointing one into a position of authority does not transform one into a leader.

Unfortunately, most Africa' so called leaders think that just because they occupy a certain position automatically they are leaders. The President is making that assumption; position equals leadership.

The question is; are the ministers who are in place now, that you have nominated and yet to be nominated have the leadership skills to motivate their followers to produce desired results.

Just as one cannot expect a mango tree to produce an orange fruit, so one cannot expect a person without leadership skills and ability to do the things which requires leadership. So Mr. President, start with your ministers.

The “lazy public servants” have their parts to play but are there right structures, systems, and training for them to function efficiently and to be productive. Most certainly the public sector as it is; is built to enable these “lazy public servants” perform below expectation.

Talking productivity, efficiency and equity without dealing appropriately with structures and systems is weakness and lack of resolve to effect change.

Mr. President, if you truly desire change make known your vision for public sector transformation and plan of action with measurable milestones to the Ghanaian public and a commitment to get it done.

www.iafricapolitics.com