Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

An Assessment of Performance Management System of Ghana’s Local Government

William Ebo Ansah

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i1/19915

Open access

This study critically examines the role of the performance management system within local government structures in Ghana, with a specific focus on the Local Government Service. As Ghana grapples with concerns about declining productivity in the public sector, especially in light of the substantial financial commitment to public salaries, understanding the efficacy of the performance management system becomes imperative. The research identifies and scrutinizes challenges facing the current system, including issues such as limited resources, capacity constraints, inconsistent implementation, and varying levels of commitment. The primary objectives of the study are to pinpoint these challenges and propose viable solutions to fortify the existing performance management framework. The findings of this research are poised to make a substantial contribution to the body of knowledge regarding local government performance management in Ghana. By dissecting the strengths, weaknesses, and potential areas for improvement, the study provides a nuanced understanding that can inform policymakers and stakeholders. Furthermore, the research lays the groundwork for targeted interventions and policy reforms, aiming to bolster the overall performance management structure. This, in turn, is expected to enhance governance and service delivery at the local government level, aligning activities and resources with the needs and priorities of the communities they serve.

Abdulai, A., Ofosu-Adarkwa, K., & Sakyi, E. K. (2019). A performance assessment of public sector institutions in Ghana. Journal of Public Affairs, 19(2), e1930.
About Local Government Service. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lgs.gov.gh
Aguinis, H. (2009). Performance Management. (2nd Edition.). Dorling Kindersley India Pvt. Ltd.
Aisyah, S., Martani, D., & Kusumawati, R. (2016). The effectiveness of performance appraisal system in improving employee performance. International Journal of Business and Management Invention, 5(2), 1-7.
Appiah-Adu, K. (2019). Performance management in Ghana's public service: A critical appraisal. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 9(4), 107-122.
Arhin A. (2013). Why should 6% ‘eat’ over 60% of Ghana’s wealth. Retrieved from http://www.ghanaweb.com
Asamoah, K., Osei-kojo, A., Yeboah-Assiamah, E. (2013). Enhancing Public Sector Productivity in Ghana: A Qualitative Study. Retrieved from
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/6568?show=full
Ayee, J. (2001). Civil Service Reform in Ghana: A case study of Contemporary Reform in Africa. African e-Journals Project, vol. 6, 1-41. Retrieved from
http://pdfproc.lib.msu.edu/?file=/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/political%20science/volume6n1/ajps006001002.pdf
Ayee, J. (1991). “ Civil Service Reform Under the PNDC”, The Journal of Management Studies, 3rd Series, Vol. 7, Jan – Dec., pp. 1-12, 1991.
Ayee, J. (1991). ’The Politics of Public Sector Reform’, Paper Delivered at a seminar at ISSER, UG, Legon, October 31, 2005.
Baffour-Awuah, R., Agyekum, A., & Atta?Peters, D. (2021). Performance management in the public sector: A comparison of practices in Ghana and other countries. Public Administration and Development, 41(1), 21-38.
Boakye, K. O., Adam, A., & Ashie, A. A. (2016). The Process of Staff Promotion in Relation to Salary or Wages Upgrade in the Public Sector Institutions: Local Government Service VS Ghana
Choi, Y., Moon, M. J., & Choi, J. N. (2017). Organizational performance management in South Korea: An overview of performance management systems in public organizations. In Handbook of public sector performance management (pp. 189-204). Emerald Publishing Limited.
Dapaa, G., & Koka, E. (2010). Privatization in Ghana: The Good, the Bad and the Alternatives. Retrieved from http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/feature/201010/53362.php
DeNisi, S., & Griffin, R. (2008). Human Resource Mangement. (3rd Edition.). Houghton: Mifflin.
Hlasny, V. (n.d.). Promotion Standards and Practices across the Business Cycle: Evidence from Korea. In Forthcoming in Journal of Sustainable Business and Economics (Vol. 5, Issue 2).
Hood, C. (1987). Public Administration. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Political Institutions, Blackwell, Oxford (1987), pp. 504–507
Hood, Christopher. (1995). “The ‘New Public Management’ in the 1980s: Variations on a Theme.” Accounting, Organizations and Society 20 (2-3) (February): 93–109. doi:10.1016/0361-3682(93)E0001-W.
Jung, H., Kang, K. H., & Seo, D. C. (2017). The impact of 360-degree feedback on improving manager's leadership effectiveness: An empirical investigation of a South Korean public organization. International Journal of Public Administration, 40(13), 1083-1094.
Kim, J., & Lee, S. (2018). Public personnel management in South Korea. In Comparative public personnel administration (pp. 65-88). Routledge.
Kim, J., Park, H., & Rho, J. (2017). Performance management in the public sector: Performance appraisal and its implications for performance. Public Performance & Management Review, 40(4), 688-710.
Kim, S. (2017). Job characteristics, Public Service Motivation, and work performance in Korea. Gestion et Management Public, Volume 5 / n° 1(3).
https://doi.org/10.3917/gmp.051.0007
Kim, S., & Lee, K. (2016). The impact of performance-based pay on employee performance and job satisfaction: Evidence from South Korea. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 27(19), 2291-2312. DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2015.1138787
Kwami E. (n.d.). Is Performance Management in Ghana’s Public Service a Mirage. Retrieved from http://fairwages.gov.gh
Lee, J., Park, Y. S., & Jang, H. (2021). Performance management and its effects on job satisfaction and organizational commitment in South Korea. Public Management Review, 23(7), 979-999.
Lee, S. M., & Park, J. H. (2018). The impact of performance-based pay on employee motivation and performance: Moderating role of perceived fairness. Public Performance & Management Review, 41(4), 703-723.
Liu, Y., & Yang, J. (2017). The impact of performance management system on employee performance: A field study of China’s retail industry. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 34, 100-107.
Local Government Service. (2007). Conditions of service for local government service staff. Accra: Local Government Service Secretariat.
Moon, M. J., & Choi, J. N. (2019). Performance management reform in South Korea: A critical analysis. Public Personnel Management, 48(4), 453-475.
Moura, M., & Neves, R. (2016). Performance management in local government: From measurement to management? Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 26(1), 1-18. doi:10.1093/jopart/muv006
Nyame-Mensah, A., Aidoo, F. A., & Wajie, F. E. (2020). Assessing the factors affecting the performance of performance management system in Ghana's public sector. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 10(2), 105-124.
Ock, J. (2016). Performance appraisal in performance management: An integration conceptual framework. Journal of Business and Economics Research, 14(1), 1-8.
Ofori, D. F., & Appiah-Adu, K. (2020). Performance management system and employee rewards: A case study of Ghana Health Service. International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications, 4(3), 212-221.
Osborne, D., & Gaebler, T. (1992). Reinventing Government: How the entrepreneurial spirit is transforming the public sector. Wokingham: Addison-Wesley.
Park, J., & Chae, S. (2019). The effects of performance-based pay on employee productivity and organizational performance in the public sector: Focusing on the moderating role of organizational culture. Public Personnel Management, 48(4), 456-480.
Park, J., & Kim, S. (2016). The influence of performance management on organizational outcomes: The case of South Korea. Public Administration Review, 76(3), 471-482.
Performance Management Policy for the Public Services of Ghana. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.psc.gov.gh
Poister, T. H. (2010). The future of local government performance measurement. Public Performance & Management Review, 33(4), 549-570. doi:10.2753/PMR1530-9576330405
Rivenbark, W., & Bianchi, C. (2012). A comparative analysis of Performance Management Systems: the Cases of Sicily and North Carolina. Public Performance and Management Review, 35(3), pgs 509-526. doi: 10.2753/PMR 1530-9576350307.
Roberts, G. E. (2023). Public Service Motivation and Servant Leadership. In: Roberts, G.E. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Servant Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-01323-2_92
Sakyi, D., Amponsah-Tawiah, K., & Agyemang, C. B. (2017). The impact of performance management on organizational performance: A case study of a public sector organization in Ghana. International Journal of Business and Management, 12(11), 85-97.
Service Delivery Standards and Performance Management System. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.lgs.gov.gh
World Bank asks Ghana to improve public sector productivity. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.accraside.com/news/46/World-Bank-asks-Ghana-to-improve-public-sector-productivity
World Bank. (2000). Reforming Public Institutions and Strengthening Governance. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
World Bank. (2002). Reforming Public Institutions and Strengthening Governance: A World Bank Strategy, Implementation Update. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

(Ansah, 2023)
Ansah, W. E. (2023). An Assessment of Performance Management System of Ghana’s Local Government. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(1), 3321–3346.