“We must let the system work”-Mahama warns against interference in discipline

President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned against political and traditional interference in disciplinary processes within Ghana’s public sector, stressing that such actions weaken institutions and undermine accountability.

Speaking at a public engagement as part of Resetting Ghana tour in Tamale, President Mahama said the country’s ability to enforce discipline is being eroded by a culture where individuals sanctioned for misconduct seek intervention from influential figures to overturn decisions.

“We must also blame ourselves politicians and traditional leaders. When people misbehave and are suspended or sacked, they run to us to plead on their behalf,” he said. “If we continue to interfere, we weaken the system.”

President Mahama emphasised that Ghana’s public institutions already have clearly defined structures and codes of conduct, but these are often compromised by external pressure and reluctance to enforce rules.

“One of the major problems we have in this country, not only in the health sector, is supervision,” he noted. “If you look at the structure of every government institution, there are levels of supervision right from the top to the bottom. Unfortunately, we have a culture where we are not able to exercise that supervision of our subordinates.”

He observed that supervisors frequently face resistance when attempting to discipline staff, with some workers treating corrective measures as personal attacks rather than professional obligations.

Highlighting the broader implications, the President said consistent enforcement of rules is critical to improving service delivery, particularly in key sectors such as healthcare, where concerns about staff attitude, punctuality, and responsiveness persist.

President Mahama urged all stakeholders to support institutional independence and respect due process, insisting that national progress depends on allowing systems to function without interference.

“If we all agree to let the disciplinary code work and allow supervisors to do their jobs, we can change this country overnight,” he added.