Transforming Public Service Performance in West Africa Through Innovations: Experiences from Ghana and Nigeria

Felix Olanrewaju Awosika

doi:10.4102/apsdpr.v2i4.68

Abstract

Public service reflects the state of the nation and no nation has been able to advance beyond its public service. The need for innovation in the public service therefore cannot be underestimated. It is at the heart of the public service’s efforts to improve performance and productivity. It is important to note that the logic of public service performance is changing profoundly due to innovations. This development paves the way for new forms of interaction and socio-economic composition in social and economic life. This article provides an overview of the on-going service transformation and applies it to public service delivery in West Africa. Our focus is on innovation in public service delivery, which refers to innovations that aim at renewing or improving public service performance. Using secondary data and content analysis, this article examines the phenomenon of low performance in the public service in two West African countries and recommends measures for improvement. The article concludes that innovations in the public sector guarantee survival and improve performance in public service delivery.

Highlights

In most countries of the world, the need for innovation in public service delivery has long been stressed
It is obvious that in this 21st century, innovation is the theme of public administration
Public sector innovation is increasingly regarded as a central factor to sustain a high level of public services for both citizens and businesses

Summary

Introduction

In most countries of the world, the need for innovation in public service delivery has long been stressed. There is a historic tendency for costs in the public sector to rise faster than those in the rest of the economy (Mulgan and Albury, 2003:8). This stems primarily from the general lack of competition. Innovation is the engine of economic growth. It deals with governance, political issues and human problem which are very difficult to solve (Okibo and Shikanda, 2013:67; Arfeen and Khan, 2012:9)

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion