President Mahama Unveils HR Management System to Combat Public Sector Inefficiencies
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the implementation of a comprehensive Human Resource Management Information System (HR MIS) designed to eliminate inefficiencies and corruption within the public sector.
Speaking at the 12th Annual Conference of Chairpersons of Governing Boards/Councils, Chief Directors, and Chief Executives of the Public Services of Ghana in Volta Region today Wednesday October 8,2025, President Mahama highlighted the urgent need for reform in Ghana’s personnel management systems. “One of the persistent challenges in Ghana’s public administration is a lack of a centralized, integrated personnel database,” the President stated, emphasizing that the current fragmented system has led to significant operational problems.
The President expressed frustration with the current state of affairs, noting, “You can’t understand why in the 21st century, government does not have a proper database of people that they employ, and so nurses and teachers have to sit for God knows how many months unpaid until some slow bureaucratic process goes from the district to the region, from the region to the headquarters, to Ministry of Finance, to auditor general.”
Under the new directive, all public service institutions, whether subverted or non-subverted, will be required to integrate into the HR MIS. This system will serve as “the single authoritative source of personnel data, ensuring accountability, transparency and efficiency in human resource management across our entire public sector.”
The HR MIS will comprehensively track:
– Recruitment processes
– Promotions and career progression
– Remuneration and salary administration
– Retirement procedures
A key motivation for the system is addressing fraudulent activities within the public payroll. President Mahama noted that the current fragmentation “is also part of the reason why ghosts, you know, come out of their graves and come and take money from our accountant General’s department.”
The centralized database is expected to significantly reduce data inconsistencies and improve oversight capabilities across all government institutions.
Complementing the HR MIS announcement, President Mahama also revealed plans for a performance management framework set to begin pilot implementation in January 2026. The initiative, developed collaboratively by the Ministry of Finance, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, and Public Service Commission, aims to establish “a performance driven culture that rewards diligence, information and measurable outcomes in the public service.”
While specific implementation details for the HR MIS are still being finalized, the President’s directive indicates an urgent timeline for integration across all public sector institutions. The performance management framework pilot is scheduled to commence in January 2026, suggesting a coordinated approach to public sector reform.
The comprehensive HR management system is anticipated to:
– Eliminate salary payment delays for public sector workers
– Reduce administrative bottlenecks
– Enhance transparency in personnel decisions
– Prevent fraudulent payroll activities
– Improve overall efficiency in public service delivery
This landmark initiative represents one of the most significant public sector reform efforts in Ghana’s recent history, potentially affecting thousands of public servants across the country and improving service delivery to millions of Ghanaians.
