Challenges in implementing code of conduct within the public sector in Anglophone West African countries: Perspectives from public managers

Abstract

This paper reports on a focus group study of senior and middle-level public managers’ perceptions about
barriers to the implementation of code of conduct in the public sector in five Anglophone West African countries.
The paper adopts a qualitative research strategy using focus group interviews for 35 serving senior, middle and
junior level manager drawn from the five Anglophone West African Countries of Ghana (8), Nigeria (9), Gambia
(7), Liberia (6) and Sierra Leone (5). The study reveals that all the countries are making frantic efforts at
improving the ethical conduct of public sector managers through the introduction of various reforms measures
including code of conduct as key components. However, the practical application of the code of conduct in
public administration remains limited. The reasons for this state of affairs include among others deficiencies in
code implementation, lack of exemplary leadership, ineffective reward and punishment system and unsupportive
public service organisational culture. Among others, a strong leadership, rigorous application of a reward and
punishment system and supporting organizational culture were the noteworthy remedial actions suggested by
discussants.