Omanghana
Former Head of the Ghana Civil Service, Dr. Alex Glover-Quartey, has launched his 420-page autobiography, The Bureaucrat, at the Ridge Church in Accra.
The launch coincided with his 84th birthday and brought together public servants, policymakers, family members and other invited guests. The book was co-authored with Kyei Amoako and published by Spotlights CG.
The Bureaucrat documents Dr. Glover-Quartey’s early life, professional journey and contribution to Ghana’s public sector. It also offers a critical examination of the country’s institutional governance and the changing character of the Civil Service.
Drawing on a career that began in 1976, Dr. Glover-Quartey compares the disciplined and structured public administration of the 1970s with the institutional changes that followed the political upheavals of the early 1980s.
He discusses the gradual decline of administrative procedures, institutional memory and record-keeping, arguing that such weaknesses have affected the efficiency and continuity of government business.
The former Civil Service head also uses the memoir to draw attention to the welfare of public servants.
Speaking at the launch, he warned that poor salaries and inadequate recognition could undermine productivity throughout the public sector. He maintained that civil servants must receive fair compensation if the state expects them to formulate sound policies, enforce regulations and deliver essential services effectively.
The book further explores tensions between career administrators and political officeholders. Dr. Glover-Quartey cautions against political interference that disregards established procedures, weakens institutional values and prevents permanent state institutions from performing their constitutional responsibilities.
Speakers at the event said the autobiography challenges the negative perception of bureaucracy as unnecessary paperwork and administrative delay.
Instead, the book presents the bureaucrat as a dedicated public professional whose work should be guided by integrity, faith, discipline and commitment to national development.
Dr. Glover-Quartey served as Head of the Ghana Civil Service from 2003 to 2006. During his tenure, he supervised extensive administrative restructuring, wage reform initiatives and efforts to modernize public institutions through information and communications technology.
In recognition of his contribution to national development, he was awarded the Order of the Volta in the Companion Division in 2006.
Available in hardback and paperback formats, The Bureaucrat serves both as a personal account of Dr. Glover-Quartey’s life and as a reflection on the strengths, challenges and future of Ghana’s public administration.
Source: Omanghana
