The functions of the Civil Service in Ghana and other countries include helping the government to implement its policies, advisory role, research, national budget preparation, and ensuring continuity and stability in the government of the state.
The Civil Service also performs the important role of linking the central government to the people at all times as well as providing employment for university graduates and other less educated job seekers.
In this WAEC/WASSCE Government tutorial, we shall discuss in greater detail the functions of the Civil Service. Our main focus will be on Ghana and other countries in the West African sub-region.
However, the role played by the Civil Service in any part of the world is largely the same.
So, the below points on the functions of the Civil Service in Ghana will apply to almost every other country across the globe.
Let’s now identify the functions of the Civil Service.
1. Advisor to Government
One key function of the Civil Service is that it advises the government on policy formulation and implementation. This is an important function because civil servants are mostly experts in their various ministries.
They are technocrats with years of experience in government. It is only logical that the Civil Service plays an advisory role to make it easier for the relatively less experienced politicians to effectively carry out the duty of administering the affairs of the state.
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2. Research
The Civil Service conducts research on matters affecting the various government ministries, departments, and agencies. For example, Civil Servants in the Agriculture Ministry will facilitate the relevant research on crop and seed development.
The ministry will then use these findings for planning or dealing with complex technical matters.
3. Policy Implementation
Thirdly, the Civil Service in Ghana or West Africa actively assists the government to implement its policies. In fact, this is arguably the most important function of the Civil Service in any country.
4. Preparation of the National Budget
Another major function of the Civil Service is that it assists the government of the day to prepare the annual national budget. This is another area where the expertise and experience of civil servants, particularly those belonging to the professional class of the civil service play a vital role.
5. Supervisory Role
The Civil Service also supervises other agencies such as public corporations and local government authorities. This promotes efficiency in government.
6. Stability in Government
One of the characteristics of the Civil Service is its permanency. This implies that civil servants remain at post, even in the event of a change of the governing political party due to the outcome of general elections.
Thus, the civil service is able to keep the working of government machinery going during a political transition period and after. The Civil Service, therefore, promotes stability and continuity in the administration of the state.
7. It Brings the Government and the People Together
The Civil Service in Ghana and elsewhere serves as a link between the government and the people. This is possible because civil servants are the ones who are engaged in the actual implementation of programmes in the regions or states, districts and communities.
This engenders a spirit of cooperation and mutual trust between the government and the governed.
8. Source of Employment
Finally, the Civil Service provides jobs for people from varying educational backgrounds in the country. Each year, the Civil Service takes steps to recruit university graduates to occupy vacant positions.
Conclusion
It is clear that the Civil Service is an important part of the executive arm of government. Civil servants are in the forefront of almost all activities that relate to the administration of the state.
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