Chief Directors urged to embrace digital tools, innovation for effective service delivery

Professor Lord Mensah, Head of Local Government Service, called on Chief Directors of Regional Coordinating Councils to embrace innovation and digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to improve efficiency and transparency in service delivery. He stressed that modern leadership requires adaptability, ethics, and a focus on results, urging directors to embody professionalism, neutrality, and accountability.

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In a time of rapid technological change, political complexity, and evolving citizen expectations, leadership must be adaptive, ethical, and results-oriented. You must embody the values of professionalism, neutrality and accountability as well.

Speaking at a three-day orientation program in Kumasi themed "Strengthening capacity for effective regional administration," Professor Mensah highlighted that leadership at their level involves vision, integrity, and courage. He stated that leaders must inspire confidence, mobilize resources, and ensure policies yield tangible outcomes for Ghanaians. He defined strategic and ethical leadership as a commitment to integrity, accountability, transparency, and service above self, noting that citizens expect trustworthy conduct and decisions that prioritize public interest.

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The enduring strength of our institutions rests heavily on the ethical standards exemplified by those entrusted with leadership. Effective leadership increasingly depends upon emotional intelligence, social intelligence, strategic thinking, resilience, and adaptability.

Professor Mensah also encouraged the Chief Directors to become champions of execution excellence. He urged them to foster a culture of evidence-based planning, disciplined implementation, continuous monitoring, and performance measurement based on meaningful outcomes and sustainable impact, rather than just inputs and outputs. He called for transformational leadership that inspires change, strengthens public confidence, and contributes to the government's development priorities.

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We must move beyond reporting inputs and outputs to demonstrating meaningful outcomes and sustainable impact. You must work effectively to transform public administration at the regional level.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, added that Ghana's decentralization system relies on competent, ethical, and innovative public servants. He acknowledged citizens' expectations for responsive, effective service delivery, accountability, and improved lives, emphasizing the significant responsibility placed on the Chief Directors. He concluded that their work would influence policies, strengthen institutions, and ultimately improve the lives of millions of Ghanaians.

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Let us become transformational leaders who not only administer institutions but also inspire change, strengthen public confidence and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the government's development priorities.