Professor Ransford Gyampo, a governance expert and CEO of Ghana’s Shippers Authority, has raised alarms over the persistent replacement of public officeholders during political transitions, calling the practice detrimental to institutional growth and national progress.
Speaking during an April 19 interview on KeyPoints with Alfred Ocansey, Gyampo linked the trend to weakened policy continuity and a decline in bureaucratic expertise, urging reforms to insulate critical roles from partisan influence.
Drawing from decades of research in leadership and public administration, Gyampo emphasized that Ghana’s habit of overhauling appointees with each new administration, entrenched since the 1992 return to constitutional rule, stifles long-term development. “Nations thrive when institutions remain stable,” he said. “Constant changes undermine the competence needed to govern effectively.” His remarks coincided with public debates over petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, though he framed the issue as part of a broader systemic challenge.
The academic highlighted how frequent personnel shifts erode institutional memory, citing countries where civil servants remain in roles across political cycles to maintain operational coherence. “Technical expertise should outweigh political loyalty,” he argued, warning that prioritizing patronage over merit fosters sycophancy and hampers accountability. Ghana’s approach, he noted, contrasts sharply with global models where apolitical appointments in sectors like justice and economic planning ensure stability.
Ghana’s political landscape has long grappled with balancing democratic transitions and bureaucratic consistency. While some defend appointee changes as aligning leadership with governing agendas, critics like Gyampo contend that the practice sacrifices institutional resilience for short-term control. Civil society groups increasingly echo his call for safeguards to depoliticize roles requiring specialized skills, particularly in judiciary and economic sectors.
The debate reflects wider challenges across African democracies, where electoral cycles often disrupt governance frameworks. Ghana’s experience underscores the tension between political imperatives and the need for enduring institutions, a balance pivotal to sustaining development in evolving democracies. As calls for reform grow, Gyampo’s critique adds momentum to efforts aimed at fostering a civil service anchored in expertise rather than partisan allegiance.
