newCPP: Code of conduct for public appointees

Let’s talk

Let’s talk about our future

Lets talk about a new Ghana.

Dear brothers and sisters.

We recently announced to you the birth of a newCPP. We promised you we would be back to begin with you a new conversation about the future of our dear country.

In the first of a series of discussion papers we set out the basic standards of conduct that we expect of people who work in public services, be they civil servants, elected representatives, unpaid officials of public boards etc. We have drawn on several sources in particular Nolan’s principles of Public Life and traditional Ghanaian values.

1 Selflessness

The public interest should be the sole basis of all decisions in public life. Holders of Public Life must not take decisions in order to gain financial or material or any other benefits for themselves, their immediate and extended family, friends or cronies.

2 Integrity

In conducting their work holders of public office must exhibit the highest standard of integrity. They should not put themselves in situations that would allow them to be influenced by external organisations or individuals in the performance of their duties.

3 Objectivity

In carrying out their duties including making appointments, awarding contracts and purchasing goods and services, holders of public office should make choices on merit, and select those services that represent best value without expecting or accepting rewards benefits or favours.

4 Accountability

All holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must at all times submit themselves to public scrutiny.

5 Openness

To develop and strengthen public trust in public servants holders of public office should be as open as possible about the decisions and actions that they take and should provide to the pubic the reasons for their decisions and actions. Reasons should only be kept confidential when the where the wider public interest is better served in doing so.

6 Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest

7 Leadership and stewardship

Holders of public office are stewards of public funds and public trust. Holders of public office must champion the principles by personal example.

8 Anti-discrimination

Holders of public office must at all times take steps to avoid discrimination on the basis of tribe, nationality, race, gender, ability, religion, creed or any other issue, and must ensure that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society especially groups that have historically faced discrimination do not suffer adversely as a result of their actions/ decisions and conduct.

9 Respect

Everyone deserves respect- men, women, old people, young people and children, abled and disabled. Holders of public office must show respect to their clients and members of the public at all times recoginising that they cannot expect resct from the public if they show respect to members of the public

10 One Ghana

Holders of public office must at all times promote the concept of one Ghana, recognising and respecting cultural diversity as the foundation of the country’s unity, peace and stability; taking steps to challenge those who threaten the country’s harmony through negative actions such as tribalism.

Stewardship

Making this happen

Heads of a public institutions must develop codes of conduct incorporating these principles and must ensure that staff within their organisations have an understanding of the standards expected of them in their roles, and the actions to take where there are conflicts of interest.

Scrutiny

Organisations must develop systems and procedures for monitoring performance against the code including logs of any breaches and remedial actions. There should also be external scrutiny of performance including scrutiny by parliament of major public institutions.

Education

Staff induction, training and development programmes must instill these principles.

Organisations such as CHRAJ must conduct extensive educational campaigns to raise public awareness of the standards to expect of public officers and also publish good practice guidelines to provide clearer examples of what constitutes conflicts of interest. We don’t need to wait for high profile cases before we start debating what is and what isn’t a conflict of interest or a breach of the code.

Next steps

Let’s talk.

This is the first in a series of papers for discussion. Let’s talk about it. We want all Ghanaians to be involved in shaping our policies and our manifesto.

The above is what we think should be the basic standards of public life. What do you Think? We may disagree about ideology but we can agree on standard of conduct of the people we pay to run our public services.

Atta Mills has been elected as the flagbearer of the NDC. The implication is clear- NDC remains the same. You know what NDC values are. You will get the same from the NDC as you got during their 20 year rule.

And for the first time in our history we have had a UP party in office. You know their successes. You also know their failures. There is no time nor space to elaborate on their failures here in terms of conduct of public officers. But don’t give up Hope.

If you don’t like what you have got from the NPP and NDC then Join us in this discussion about the future of Ghana. You will be surprised to see your own ideas turning into policy under a newCPP in a newGhana. And you would look back and be proud that you decided, today, to be part of this new movement.

Together we can create a new party. A new party that will provide opportunity for all, not a few. A new party dedicated to the highest standards in public life. newCPP aspires to the highest moral and ethical standards.

A new party that would allow all of us to sit together, eat together, work together, laugh together in a spirit of peace, respect and solidarity.

Join the discussion with the newCPP. Join us and shape the future of your country. Email us at new_cpp@yahoo.com or leave your contribution here with your email. We would like to email you to thank you for taking part in the discussion.