1. DISCONNECT BETWEEN POLITICIANS & TECHNOCRATS IN IMPLEMENTING RESULTS-BASED MANAGEMENT
GHANA COUNTRY PRESENTATION BY
MR. ALIDU FUSEINI
CHIEF DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE

2. ORDER OF PRESENTATION
Clarification of terminologies – Politician & Technocrat
The disconnect
Factors accounting for the disconnect
How strained relations impact on organisations
Recommendations/Way Forward
Ghana Country Paper
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3. Teminologies
Policy Makers are mostly the Political Leadership while the Technocrats constitute the cadre group for the implementation of policies
politicians are the elected representatives of the people, some of whom are appointed by the Government into public service offices as the Political head of the bureaucratic institution.
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4. Teminologies (Contd)
Bureaucrats are the professionals and semi professionals who have gained appointments through the merit system into the organization as career staff
Politicians are held accountable at the end of term and during elections, and for how they can satisfy the voters.
Bureaucrats are accountable to the Government of the day as well as their professional peers
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5. THE DISCONNECT
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6. Political Heads – Their challenges with working with Technocrats
Ineffective support from the Directors – do not have the requisite competencies
Directors do not add value to the work originating from their subordinates - low quality of work
Officers do little analytical work
Officers report to work late but leave early to attend to other businesses
Ghana Country Paper
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7. Technocrats – Their challenges with working with Political Heads
Technocrats indicated that the Political Leadership:
Lack understanding of their work as Ministers or Leaders
Lack trust and respect for them
Tend to disregard professional advise
Doubt their loyalty and prefer to use consultants and special assistants
Attempt to skirt laid down rules and regulations
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8. Technocrats – Challenges with working with Political Heads(contd)
Overlook organizational values of merit, professionalism, neutrality, etc
Politicians come into office with an already prejudiced mind and suspicious of the Bureaucrat.
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9. FACTORS FOR THE DISCONNECT
Mode of Entry into Public Service
Tenure of Office
Outlook of Politician and Technocrat
Accountabilities
Provision of Inaccurate/non factual information to the Politician
Technocrats losing their political neutrality
Staffing
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10. 1. Mode of Entry into Public Service
Technocrats - process of recruitment and selection based on qualifications, specialized skills and experiences in various fields of expertise
Political Heads - elected into power and thus possess the mandate of the populace to prosecute the agenda for which they were elected. Therefore look at other key criteria other than or in addition to qualifications and experience
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11. 2. Tenure of Office
Technocrats - continued presence within the state apparatus, providing administrative stability during times of political transitions/ ministerial reshuffles
Political Heads - has a limited time to stay in office
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12. 3. Outlook of Politician and Technocrat
Political Heads - focus on the attainment of quick, visible and quantifiable results intended get them re-elected into office
Technocrats - does not focus on ideological strategies, but rather on practical, effective ways to deal with the variety of pressing socio-economic issues
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13. Accountability
The accountabilities of Politician during their tenure of office is with the electorate
The accountabilities of the Technocrat lie with political heads, superior officers and organizational values.
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14. 5. Technocrats and Politicians losing their identities
(Politicization of Bureaucracy and Bureaucratization of politics)
Some Politicians undermine the organizational values and impose measures that cannot be sustained after their tenure especially in appointments and radical policy changes
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15. Technocrats and Politicians losing their identities (contd)
Some Technocrats also forget their values of political neutrality and identify themselves with political parties which eventually creates a sense of mistrust and insecurity between themselves and existing or past governments.
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16. EFFECTS OF DISCONNECT Ghana (Results of survey)
Poor Planning and Decision Making
Inability to meet agreed organisational targets and deadlines
Loss of Institutional Memory
Loss of time and finances
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17. WAY FORWARD
Organise regular interactive meetings between Politicians and Top Technocrats
Both sides to demonstrate clear commitment to Civil Service values
Organise orientations for political heads on their assumption of office
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18. WAY FORWARD (contd) Technocrats must:
know the political environment and sensitivities of the Minister
study and understand Minister’s strength, weakness, goals, work styles
demonstrate values such as cooperation, reliability, honesty and diplomacy however difficult the situation
Make available to Ministers honest and impartial information relevant to a decision
Remain anonymous and attribute all positive initiatives at the workplace to his Minister
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19. WAY FORWARD (contd) Politicians too must:
Learn to listen to the advise of Technocrats in taking decisions
Make conscious efforts to use in-house expertise
Be abreast with the laid down rules and regulations within the public administration system
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20. CONCLUSION
Results Based Management is fundamental to delivery of targets and improved service
It requires focusing the attention of the institution on a common objective and galvanize members for the attainment of this objective
It is therefore important to build synergies at all levels.
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21. Thank you for your attention
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