A Fellow of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) in Public Law and Justice, Professor Stephen Asare, is advocating for the establishment of a Public Officers' Ethics Act to deal with recruitment into state agencies.

According to him, the current norm where politicians had the mandate to recruit persons affiliated with their parties into state agencies was worrying and disastrous to the stability of the nation’s democracy.

“It is time to write a Public Officer's Ethics Act that defines and delineates areas that politicians can go and cannot go to. I cannot understand why politicians are involved in the recruitment of people into the security service. 

“I cannot understand why a CEO of a state-owned enterprise can come and sit on TV and do politics. It's unthinkable to me. I cannot understand why somebody who works in the media can be appointed to the board of a state-owned enterprise,” he stated in an interview on Newsfile on Saturday.

Prof Asare further said the current practice has undermined the public service which has in turn weakened democracy and national security. He said it is also a subtle means by which various state institutions are corrupted by politicians.

He believes this state of affairs has dwindled the number of competent employees in public institutions since many were engaged not based on merit.

On a recent campaign trail in the Northern Region, NDC flagbearer aspirant, John Mahama, promised the party faithful that his government will recruit their children and young party members into the security services.

“Our people, our branch executives’ children, you just stand by. If we’re distributing any jobs, if we’re recruiting people into the police, the army, the prisons service, the fire service, and the immigration, we will recruit all our young people too to go and work,” Mr Mahama said.

Prof Asare says Mr Mahama was wrong in making such promises because should he win the national election, he will serve as President of Ghana and not for his political party.

 “How can you be running for president and going around campaigning that when you come you will take care of your foot soldiers? Are you running to be president of your party? Or are you running to be president of your country?” Prof Asare quizzed.

Subsequently, he pointed out that there is a need to control the manner in which politics is conducted in the country. He believes making reforms to political party and campaign financing will be the way forward.

Prof Asare cautioned that if those reforms are not carried out, Ghana cannot get the best out of her democracy.