The past week has brought two unsettling incidents to the fore. They have reminded the country that the attitude toward work in many corners of our public service demands urgent attention. These issues are not isolated. They reveal gaps in responsibility, discipline and care for the very citizens our institutions are meant to protect.
The first incident concerns the woman whose abuse went viral on Wednesday. She stated that she had reported her situation several times at two police stations. According to her, no action followed those reports. Help came only after a neighbour filmed the violence and shared it online. It is troubling that a citizen had to reach social media before being taken seriously. These two police stations failed her. They failed their oath. They failed the country. As a frontline security service, the Ghana Police Service carries a responsibility to act promptly and protect the vulnerable. When two units ignore repeated cries for help, the question must be asked. What will be done? Will this situation be examined with seriousness, or will it be allowed to pass without consequence?
The second incident is the painful stampede at the military recruitment exercise that took the lives of six young women. The loss is heavy. The recruitment has since resumed with clear order, steady control and proper movement of applicants. The discipline now displayed shows that this level of organisation was always within reach. This tragedy should never have been the price for change. The Ghana Armed Forces are a symbol of structure and precision. They must uphold those values at all times, especially when handling civilians who trust them to conduct such exercises safely.
These two institutions represent the highest expression of national discipline. When they fall short, they send a worrying message to the rest of the public sector. They set the tone for the entire system. If the bodies entrusted with safety and order cannot consistently embody the standards they preach, how can other institutions feel compelled to do better?
Across the wider public service, too many workers still drift in and out of duty with little urgency. Some report to work late in the morning, some not at all. Supervisors often cannot enforce standards because they themselves are defaulting. The country loses time and progress through this pattern. The Public Accounts Committee has raised many concerns about poor attitudes, yet the consequences rarely match the gravity of the issues identified.
Ghana cannot continue along this path. A mindset shift is essential. Institutions must rediscover their purpose. Workers must value the trust placed in them. Leadership must set examples worthy of followership. Accountability must become a living principle, not an occasional reminder.
We owe it to the citizens who rely on public institutions for safety, fairness and service. We owe it to the future we claim to be building. Mindset Transformation Initiative stands firm in the belief that Ghana can rise above these challenges, but only if we commit to a national renewal of discipline, responsibility and integrity.
Mindset Transformation Initiative
Think Ghana, Act Ghana, Build Ghana
About the Author
