03/06/2026
Nine African Nations Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthening Public Service and Health Workforce Development
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire – June 3, 2026 – Nine African countries have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing public service reforms and strengthening health workforce development following the successful conclusion of the Third High-Level Meeting of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The two-day continental gathering brought together senior government officials, health experts, and development partners from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin, the Central African Republic, Ghana, Nigeria, and The Gambia to discuss strategies aimed at improving health systems and public service delivery across Africa.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Director-General of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency (CSA), who currently serves as Chairman of HaPSNA.
Liberia was represented by a delegation comprising Mr. Mulbah K. Yorgbor Jr., Mr. Roland D. Kallon, and Ms. Edleen Tasha Clark of the Civil Service Agency, along with Dr. Wiyata Tamara Diggs Koker of the Ministry of Health.
During the meeting, delegates adopted a comprehensive action plan focused on improving workforce planning, strengthening remuneration and retention of health workers, enhancing accountability systems, and accelerating the integration of community health workers into government structures.
Country presentations highlighted notable progress in primary healthcare delivery and community health programs. However, participants also identified persistent challenges, including inadequate financing for community health initiatives, workforce shortages, limited career advancement opportunities, weak human resource management systems, gaps in training and supervision, and delays in formally integrating community health workers into civil service frameworks.
Delegates emphasized that overcoming these challenges will require stronger collaboration between ministries responsible for health and public service, alongside sustained political commitment from member states.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Joekai described the meeting as productive, insightful, and action-oriented.
“Our deliberations over the past two days have been highly productive and have provided a valuable platform for member states to assess the status of their community health workforce programs, primary healthcare systems, public service structures, and efforts to integrate frontline health personnel into national civil service systems,” he said.
Dr. Joekai disclosed that member states agreed to intensify efforts toward implementing their national action plans and ensuring that commitments made during the meeting result in measurable improvements in the lives of citizens across the continent.
He also welcomed a recommendation from Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage, Pierre N’Gou Dimba, proposing that future HaPSNA meetings formally include both Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for Public Service from participating countries.
According to Dr. Joekai, the recommendation will be incorporated into preparations for the Fourth Sitting of HaPSNA, scheduled for the first week of March 2027.
“As Chairman of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa, I urge all member states to fully implement their national action plans, sustain the momentum generated during this meeting, and continue strengthening partnerships that advance human health, public service excellence, and sustainable development across our continent,” he stated.
He further noted that the collaboration between HaPSNA, the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC), and member states demonstrates the effectiveness of African-led solutions in addressing the continent’s development challenges.
Also speaking at the closing ceremony, Minister Pierre N’Gou Dimba reaffirmed Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to the objectives of HaPSNA and pledged to integrate relevant policy reforms emerging from the meeting into his country's health sector.
The minister also reiterated an earlier commitment by Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé, that the government will champion efforts to have HaPSNA incorporated into the institutional framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Third High-Level Meeting of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa was attended by high-ranking government officials, representatives of international development partners, private sector stakeholders, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Côte d’Ivoire.
The meeting concluded with renewed optimism and a shared commitment among participating nations to strengthen healthcare systems, improve public service delivery, and promote sustainable development across Africa.
