The Executive Arm of Government and Public Policy in Ghana

Public policymaking is all about what and how government does things to achieve the public interest. In Ghana, the executive arm of government has primary responsibility for public policy formulation and implementation, though the legislative branch of government (or Parliament) also formulates public policy in some instances. In the case of the executive branch of government, most of the work of policy formulation is done by public administrators in the bureaucracy who serve the executive. Policies formulated are all linked to the executive through the political heads of sector ministries, departments, and agencies. But policies which involve huge financial outlays must be submitted to Parliament for approval, modification, and rejection, among other processes, before necessary financial approval is given. The executive or the legislature may engage the services of commissions, committees, or consultants. The chapter discusses the executive arm of government and public policymaking in Ghana and interrogates the institutional foundation of the executive arm in the governance processes in relation to other spheres of power and influence in decision-making.