Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has stressed that the government’s Reset Agenda must go beyond policies and programmes to create a tangible impact in the daily lives of every Ghanaian.
Speaking at the launch of Citizen Experience: A Reset for Superior Public and Civil Service Delivery, which he co-authored with Professor Robert E. Hinson, Mr. Debrah said a successful reset must be reflected in how citizens experience government services.
He explained that the purpose of public service is to improve the lives and well-being of the people, adding that every action taken by public institutions must ultimately serve the interests of citizens.
“Public service has only one true purpose; it is to improve the life and wellbeing of our people. Everything else is secondary,” he said.
Mr. Debrah noted that when citizens receive services with fairness, clarity, speed, and dignity, their confidence in government grows. However, he warned that repeated experiences of neglect, confusion, delays, and poor treatment can weaken trust in state institutions.
According to him, the Reset Agenda is not merely a government programme but an opportunity to rebuild the relationship between citizens and the state.
“President John Dramani Mahama has spoken about resetting Ghana. That reset must be felt in the economy, in jobs, in infrastructure, in accountability and in governance, but it must also be felt in the way the state speaks to citizens,” he stated.
Mr. Debrah said a reset that citizens cannot experience in their everyday interactions with public institutions would remain incomplete, urging all stakeholders to support efforts to achieve the vision.
He also reflected on the sacrifices associated with public service, recounting the painful moment he had to announce the death of colleagues and friends who lost their lives in a helicopter crash while on official assignment.
He said such moments remind public officials that service is not merely a position of authority but a responsibility that demands commitment and sacrifice.
“Service is not a slogan, it is a sacrifice,” he said.
Mr. Debrah expressed the hope that the book would contribute to building a more responsive, humane, and efficient public and civil service, adding that the greatest honour in government is not to be served by the people but to serve the people.
Source: Mubarak Yakubu
