Reflection of My Year-Long Consultancy
By Bill K. Jarkloh
Communication Consultant/CSA
The Civil Service Agency has been operational since its enactment into law as a human resource management institution of Liberian government as of the early 70s, but this Agency has often been like a sleeping giant. The leadership it should have provided was not, instead it has been the prey of bureaucrats who took advantage of week leadership to ferry their relatives, relatives and associates into government outside the dictates of meritocracy. But the ascendency of a US trained industrial psychologist, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai has brought to bed reforms that are championing a merit-based recruitment of civil servants that transcend beyond the borders of Liberia. This article intends to take a look at some of the reforms undertaken at the CSA in less than two years of the stewardship of Dr. Joekai at the CSA under President Joseph Boakai’s leadership of the country, and to highlight some of the benefits to the government, as he steps out to raise the status of the Agency to a commission.
It all started on a warm Friday, March 22, 2024, the Ballroom at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex was lit up with choruses of cultural dances and songs by other singing bands including the Armed forces. Dignitaries were ushered into the hall and seated on the platform of the beautifully decorated scene amidst the drumming of the Small Town Culture group. The occasion was meant for the induction of a young and energetic industrial psychologist and experienced administrator, Hon. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. as Director General of a once dormant agency, the Civil Service Agency, by the President of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph N. Boakai, Sr.
The dye was cast and immediately upon his preferment, that began the dawn of a new day commencing the administration of Director-General Joekai at the CSA, whose leadership has since focused not only on ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness, but also professionalizing of the civil service in his reform initiatives at prudent human resource management, merit-based recruitment, training, and performance management as well as working to creating a supportive work environment that fosters personal and professional growth for all civil servants.
By doing so, the CSA under the stewardship of Dr. Joekai started with revisiting the consultancy program of government, and professionalizing it.
Before his ascendancy the consultancy program of government was in the dump-pile; dozens of laborers such as cleaners, including cooks, receptionists, cleaners, and battle-cryers as well as party fanatics were those referred to as consultants while some of the consultants of these kinds were paid in their numbers through mobile money accounts.
Immediately upon his ascendency, Dr. Joekai reformed the consultancy program when he proffered a Consultancy policy that was launched by President Boakai. His administration at the CSA ensured that the government reduced its consultancy hires from 1,000 to just 94 qualified, productive and professionally experienced consultants, thereby slicing expenditure from $6.1 million to $1.4 million, and saving the government $4.6 million.
Having recruited merit-based consultants across the 103 ministries, agencies and public corporations, Dr. Joekai in his next move perused and analyzed the scope of the Liberian civil service, deserted the government workforce at all levels within the all three branches of government and instituted the appropriate reforms measure, which effectively curbed unnecessary losses to the government.
Accordingly, the Employees Status Regularization Project (ESRP) was launched. The project streamlined the government workforce, identified systemic issues like shared bank accounts and tracked the discrepancies. The CSA under the watch of Dr. Joekai, an industrial psychologist, discovered these discrepancies which also include double dipping and effectively instituted reformed measures that corrected and according made strides that ensure efficiency and effectiveness in governance process in the face of intimidation by affected bureaucrats.
The Director-General, working with his team, including a members of the President’s Young Professional fellow, Danu Mianyen serving as the Deputy Director General for Administration, and an a one time student rights activist Darlington Smith, Deputy Director General for Human Resource management and Policy extended the CSA’s flagship project – the Employee Status Regularization Project nationwide. The Project significantly impacted governance, removed unqualified personnel from the payroll, curbed double dipping, and halted wasteful spending of the government’s resources to people who contribute nothing to the system other than battle cries and blind loyalty to party fanaticism.
As part of a larger effort by the CSA to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the Liberian civil service the Joekai administration streamlined the workforce and identified systemic issues like shared bank accounts amongst other things which led to the recovery of huge financial resources that saved the government Saves $2.5 Million.
Because of the robust leadership shown in implementing the ESRP the number of civil servants was reduced from 67,746 to 60,900 between March and October 2024, leading to a significant reduction in the government’s wage bill from $23.5 million to $21.1 million monthly.
Dr. Joekai’s reform measures did not stop at offices in Monrovia; he visited government’s payroll throughout the nook and cranny of the country to forge meritocracy in the governance process through efficiency, productivity and accountability amongst the government workforce amongst others.
To make the merit-based recruitment of government workforce operational and applicable, the CSA under Joekai’s watch automated the testing Center of the Civil Service Agency where an applicant will have to take the computer-based test for any desired civil service job desired by applicants. The automated test, however, excludes cleaners and receptionists, janitors, and the like. But applicants will get instant result indicating whether they passed or failed the test, and successful applicants will receive their civil service certificates that will certify them for employment into the Liberian civil service. Dr. Josiah Joekai‘s dream has been to give qualified Liberians the opportunity to standout in building their nation.
Having continued to work harder at home with a lots of reforms introduced in the government without compromise, the CSA Director General sold his transformative vision of effective, efficient and accountable civil service to countries across the region. This effort yield the establishment of a regional network, the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) which he serves as founding Chairman.
In one of his recent public appearances, Dr. Joekai noted with appreciation Liberia’s championing of leadership in the Health and Public Service Network of Africa, a bold continental platform dedicated to integrating healthcare workers into civil service structures across Africa, which he heads as organizing Chairman.
“As the inaugural chair of HaPSNA, I am humbled to carry Liberia’s flag forward because when we lead with purpose, others follow with hope,” he asserted. Dr. Joekai said he would be remiss if he didn’t pa y tribute to our outstanding Minister of Health, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, a true daughter of Liberia and a shining example of servant leadership. Under her guidance, Liberia’s health system is not only functioning effectively but also achieving success.
At present, Dr. Joekai is engaged with raising the status of the CSA to a commission in keeping with the constitutional mandate requiring the Civil Service of Liberia to be run by a commission as an autonomous agency. Accordingly, he has already submitted a draft bill of the Civil Service Commission to the House of Representatives to kick-start the process of enacting the commission into law.
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