2025 CIVIL SERVICE WEEK CELEBRATION: "Civil Service must evolve or risk obsolescence" – Dr. Kavaarpuo warns

The Executive Director of the Data Protection Commission, Dr. Arnold Kavaarpuo, has issued a strong call for urgent and holistic digital transformation within Ghana’s civil service, warning that without structural reform, the country risks falling behind in the global race for technological relevance and sovereignty.

Delivering a keynote address as the guest speaker at the 2025 Civil Service Week Public Lecture in Accra, Dr. Kavaarpuo challenged Ghana’s public institutions to move beyond surface-level adoption of technology and instead reimagine the very foundation of public service in the digital era.

“This lecture is not just about technology—it is about transformation,” he stated.

“It is about how we reimagine the core of public service to become efficient, inclusive, data-smart, and citizen-centric.”

Held at the CLOGSAG Auditorium under the theme “Adapting to Automation, Artificial Intelligence and E-Governance: The Civil Service in Contemporary Ghana,” the lecture brought together senior government officials, policy influencers, and tech sector stakeholders.

Dr. Kavaarpuo unpacked the implications of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and e-governance for Ghana’s governance ecosystem.

Citing global examples from Estonia, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom, he demonstrated how governments are already reaping the benefits of digital transformation.

“Automation streamlines repetitive tasks, AI enables intelligent decision-making, and e-governance enhances transparency and access,” he explained.

“In Ghana, these tools must not just be buzzwords—they must become the backbone of service delivery.”

Yet, he cautioned against “blind digitalization,” insisting that technology must serve people, empower civil servants, and strengthen institutions—not displace or marginalize them.

Risks to Monitor

Dr. Kavaarpuo highlighted critical risks that must be mitigated as part of the transition.

These include digital exclusion, the creation of echo chambers by biased algorithms, ethical concerns, data protection challenges, and the potential displacement of workers.

He stressed that while Ghana’s civil service has a strong foundation and institutional memory, significant structural barriers persist.

These include weak digital infrastructure, fragmented ICT systems, and internal digital divides—even within the same institutions.

“The digital divide is not just between citizens and the government. It exists within government. Ministries and departments often operate in silos, using separate platforms that cannot speak to each other,” he observed.

Call for Reform and Interoperability

Dr. Kavaarpuo called for a bold national strategy to unify and standardize ICT infrastructure across all ministries, departments, and agencies.

“We need a clear framework for interoperability, common standards, and shared systems that deliver seamless digital services,” he emphasized.

He also revealed that the government, through the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, is spearheading a Data Monetization Bill—a legislative effort aimed at unlocking value from government-held data while protecting privacy and rights.

People Over Procurement

Arguing that “technology alone is not transformation,” Dr. Kavaarpuo said that investment in people is key.

“We must move beyond procurement. We must invest in training, mentorship, and support across all levels of the civil service,” he stated.

He urged public institutions to cultivate a culture of agility, curiosity, and openness to experimentation—qualities that he described as essential in the face of rapidly evolving digital ecosystems.

“There is comfort in the familiar,” he admitted, “but today’s pace of technology demands that we leave our comfort zones. If we remain static, we will become obsolete.”

Dr. Kavaarpuo concluded his address with a challenge to the civil service: to transition from being passive recipients of digital trends to becoming proactive enablers of innovation and national development.

The event marked a pivotal moment in Ghana’s public sector digital discourse, signaling a strong push toward creating a civil service that is agile, future-ready, and rooted in ethical innovation.

On his part, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP) urged the Office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS) to spearhead a rapid digital transformation agenda to safeguard Ghana’s data sovereignty and institutional relevance in the face of emerging technologies.

The event, themed “Adapting to Automation, Artificial Intelligence and E-Governance: The Civil Service in Contemporary Ghana,” served as a rallying point for digital inclusion and administrative reform in Ghana’s public sector.

Hon. George cautioned that Ghana could not afford to repeat the mistakes of previous technological revolutions.

“Transformation without vision will deliver minimal impact,” he said, calling AI and data management the next frontier of global competition—and potential exploitation.

Emphasizing Africa’s demographic edge, he highlighted that over 68% of the continent’s 1.5 billion people are under the age of 35 and produce vast amounts of data daily.

“If we fail to manage and protect our data, we risk becoming digitally colonized,” he warned.

In a significant announcement, the Minister revealed that all Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and designated digital focal persons will attend a two-day AI Boot Camp from July 25–26, 2025, in the Eastern Region.

Organized in collaboration with UNDP, the program aims to equip leaders with AI principles and actionable strategies tailored to their Ministries.

To support the implementation of AI across government, each Ministry will appoint a technical focal person to ensure institutional continuity.

“Ministers may change, but institutions must endure,” Hon. George emphasized. “That is how we build a future-proof civil service.”

He also announced the availability of 200 AI training kits from the One Million Coders Project to be distributed through the Civil Service Training Centre, aiming to boost digital literacy and capacity building across the public service.

In a broader push for IT reform, the Minister proposed that every Ministry be staffed with a five-member digital team, comprising a network/system engineer, a software developer, a certified data protection officer, an AI officer, and a cybersecurity expert.

“The era of relying on one IT technician per Ministry is over. We need embedded, full-spectrum digital teams,” he declared.

Hon. George concluded with a call for bold, ethical, and practical leadership, urging stakeholders to move beyond ceremonial rhetoric.

"This lecture must not be symbolic. It must ignite real transformation—one that delivers secure, efficient, and citizen-centered public service.”

Taking his turn, Head of the Civil Service, Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh underscored the urgent need for Ghana’s civil service to embrace automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and e-governance as part of efforts to modernize public administration and enhance national development.

Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh described the gathering as a critical platform for policymakers, stakeholders, and governance practitioners to deliberate on emerging trends and renew their collective commitment to professional, transparent, and inclusive public service delivery.

“It is indeed an honour, a privilege, and a deep sense of pride that I welcome you all to this important occasion,” he said, stressing the evolving role of civil servants as “custodians of governance, architects of continuity, and stewards of national development.”

Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh noted that the theme for this year’s celebration — "Adapting to Automation, Artificial Intelligence and E-Governance: The Civil Service in Contemporary Ghana" — speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“The world is on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another,” he said, quoting Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder of the World Economic Forum.

He emphasized that Ghana cannot afford to remain on the “periphery of the periphery” of this global transformation.

"We must become active participants, leveraging technology to reposition the civil service as a forward-looking, agile and dynamic institution,” he added.

He stressed that education, innovation, and institutional reform are key to staying relevant in a rapidly changing world. “We cannot give what we do not have,” he stated.

“The goal of education, as President John F. Kennedy once said, is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.”

Calling for a renewed commitment to service, Dr. Aggrey-Darkoh urged civil servants to embrace lifelong learning and reform-minded leadership.

He expressed confidence that the integration of AI and digital governance will produce a more citizen-centered and responsive public sector rooted in integrity, excellence, and adaptability.

“Let history record that under our stewardship, we embraced change, strengthened the civil service, and advanced the aspirations of our people — with courage, not timidity,” he concluded.

The public lecture featured expert discussions on emerging technologies and institutional readiness, aiming to fortify the nation’s public service for a digital future.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith