Labour Analyst, Austin Gamey, has raised concerns about the influence of political connections and personal relationships in public sector recruitment, warning that the practice is undermining competence and affecting service delivery.

Speaking to Arafat Musah on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Gamey said some individuals secure positions in the public service and civil service not necessarily because of their ability to perform the required duties, but through recommendations and connections with influential people.

He explained that although some of these individuals may possess the required academic qualifications, they lack the competence needed to deliver effectively in their respective positions.

Gamey said the practice has become a major concern, as public institutions continue to struggle to provide the quality of services expected by citizens.

“I’ve seen how people try to persuade panels to sort of get people into office. And so it is not strange, and I can guarantee you, it exists, that people do connections, and you put people who are not competent,” he said.

He noted that recruitment through personal connections has affected the effectiveness of public institutions, as individuals who are not adequately equipped for their responsibilities occupy important positions.

He stressed that competence must remain the determining factor in recruitment, warning that institutions cannot achieve meaningful progress when appointments are based on personal relationships rather than merit.

“Competence and competence competence is what is required. Nothing more, nothing less,” he emphasised.

Gamey further argued that Ghana already has labour laws and established procedures governing how people are recruited into and separated from public institutions, but these provisions are not being adequately followed.

According to him, the situation is worsened by political considerations, which sometimes influence appointments and make it difficult for institutions to remove employees who are not performing.

He cited instances where individuals are allegedly imposed on public institutions through influential recommendations, leaving management with limited room to make decisions based solely on competence and performance.

Gamey called for a return to the proper implementation of existing labour laws and recruitment procedures, insisting that institutions must prioritise merit and accountability if they are to improve service delivery.

He maintained that Ghana must first acknowledge the shortcomings in its recruitment practices and take deliberate steps to correct them to prevent the continued appointment of incompetent personnel to critical public positions.