Policy analyst and senior lecturer Dr. Joshua Zaato has stressed the importance of accountability in public service, arguing that Ghana must re-evaluate state institutions that drain resources without delivering meaningful impact.
Speaking on Keypoints on TV3, he underscored the need for leaders to recognise that public office comes with responsibility, both during and after their tenure.
Dr. Zaato framed accountability as a non-negotiable pillar of democratic governance.
“Anyone who takes an oath of office must know that a day will come when they take another oath to account for their actions,”he said, noting that state officials must always be prepared to justify their decisions and stewardship.
He added that democratic systems only thrive when citizens can trust that every public office holder is subject to scrutiny.
“Accountability is a constant in democracy, and powerful people must be held to account whether in office or out of office,” he explained.
Turning to government expenditure, Dr. Zaato questioned the value Ghana receives from maintaining certain public offices, arguing that some institutions offer little measurable benefit to the average citizen.
“If you do a simple value-for-money analysis, Ghana is making a loss. We should scrap the office and channel the funds into things citizens actually feel, roads, markets, buffer stock, and support for farmers,” he said.
Dr. Zaato further highlighted the role of trust and leadership within state institutions, stressing that cooperation from officers is not automatic.
According to him, effective leadership fosters unity and responsiveness, especially within the security and civil service sectors.
“Cooperation is earned, like respect. If you have good relationships and good leadership, officers will put everything down and help you immediately. If they don’t trust you, they will delay you,”* he noted.
