The World Bank has approved a $35 million International Development Association (IDA) credit for the Ghana Public Sector Reform for Results Project.

This is to improve efficiency and accountability in the delivery of public services by 16 selected Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
 
“By putting citizens first and leveraging technology in service delivery, the project will enhance access, speed up service delivery and reduce corruption,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Ghana.

He said, “By targeting improvements in access and delivery of key public services, the project also advances the World Bank Group’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.”

The project seeks to improve the performance of specific entities crucial to the delivery of five sets of key public services: passports, drivers’ licenses and vehicle registration, environmental permits for individuals and micro- small and medium enterprises, registration of births and deaths, and residence permits.

The Ghana Public Sector Reform for Results project will also support relevant entities to strengthen citizen engagement, efficiency, accountability and the handling of complaints. It will encourage citizens to use multiple channels – such as mobile applications, text messages, and the internet – to provide and track their feedback, suggestions and complaints. 

The 16 entities comprise five front-line service delivery agencies (Passport Office, Ghana Immigration Service, Births and Deaths Registry, Environmental Protection Agency and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority), their respective parent ministries and key entities that provide oversight, guidance and services to these entities.

The project will build on existing operations in the World Bank Group portfolio and address long-standing constraints to the efficient and accountable delivery of selected public services, such as limited access points, excessive delays and corruption. 

It focuses on results and places special emphasis on strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) across MDA's as a first step towards greater integration of M&E in the policy-making process.

The project is aligned with Ghana’s Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (CPESDP), 2017-2024. 

“It supports the CPESDP’s strategic objective for increased growth for job creation. A strong public sector that is professionally managed and results-driven is critical to support job creation and increase growth opportunities,” said Hisham Waly, World Bank Governance Global Practice Manager for West and Southern Africa.

The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. 

IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. 

Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 per cent going to Africa.