By: Julius Konton
Liberia’s Civil Service Agency Director-General, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr. is now the first Chairman of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA)
It came following the landmark Health and Public Service Network for Africa (HaPSNA)establishment by African nations after a week-long Public Service Conference on Human Health Workforce Development in Monrovia.
Evident by his quest to foster an improved and collaborative civil and public service development, the Liberian Civil Service Agency’s (CSA) Director-General, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., becomes the inaugural Chairperson of the newly established landmark Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA), the Monrovia Declaration.
The ‘Monrovia Declaration’ is the outcome of the Regional Public Service Leadership Conference on Human Health Workforce Development hosted by Liberia through the CSA.
Delegates from participating countries—Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Liberia—signed the framework.
This momentous agreement was adopted during the closing ceremony of the week-long International Conference convened by the CSA in Monrovia, Liberia, with the support of the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC).
The framework, which encompasses six strategic goals, focuses on training, leadership advancement, professional development, and fostering a collaborative and results-driven approach to governance.
The framework was signed by Emmanuel Sorgo representing Burkina Faso, Dr. Brahima Lokpo representing Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., the Director General of the CSA and progenitor of the Conference signed for Liberia, and Professor Dr. Charles Edward Lahai Senessie signed for Sierra Leone, respectively.
Government officials, diplomats, and special guests who attended the framework adoption ceremony expressed their unwavering support for the continental initiative, stressing that it is an eye-opener for Africa to engage in a south-south collaboration in addressing the workforce needs of nations.
Esteemed speakers included Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., and Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., who presented the draft HaPSNA framework for review, validation, and adoption.
Among other things, HaPSNA is a transformative framework that seeks to address challenges in the public service, with an emphasis on human health workforce development.
The framework emphasizes, among other things, strengthening health and public sector efficiency and workforce governance, developing sustainable financing models for workforce advancement, and promoting digital tools and e-governance for decision-making and service delivery.
The heads of Delegations, led by Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., officially presented the HaPSNA framework document to President Boakai.
In a happy mood, the President thanked the African nations for taking such a bold step to transform public sector governance, especially the advancement of the human health workforce.
The Chief Executive pledged Liberia’s full support to the implementation of HaPSNA, calling on delegations to seek the political will of their governments.
President Boakai profoundly thanked Dr. Joekai and the CSA for the ‘creativity and innovation,” which, according to him, is an “eye-opener” for African nations to support each other in improving their nations’ workforce.
The Liberian leader assured the delegations that he would elevate the HaPSNA to his colleagues heads of state to enlist their support.
Meanwhile, the network’s Chairman, Dr. Joekai, expressed optimism about HaPSNA’s collaborative vision, which aims to deliver sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience in African public service and health workforce development. By: Julius Konton
