By: Julius Konton
The Chairman of the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) and Director-General of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency (CSA), Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., has arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of a major continental policy summit aimed at addressing persistent challenges confronting Africa’s public service and health workforce systems.
Dr. Joekai arrived in the Ivorian commercial capital on Thursday, May 28, 2026, to participate in the 3rd High-Level Continental Meeting on Strengthening Public Service and Health Workforce Development Across Africa, scheduled for June 1–2, 2026.
Upon arrival, he was officially received by Nassere Kaba, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Civil Affairs, representing the Government of Côte d’Ivoire.
The high-level gathering comes at a critical moment for Africa’s governance and healthcare sectors as governments confront widening workforce shortages, institutional inefficiencies, public-sector financing constraints, and mounting demands for stronger service delivery systems amid population growth and epidemiological transitions.
The meeting, hosted under the theme “Advancing Country-Led Pathways for Strengthening Community Health Programs through Civil Service Systems,” is expected to convene senior policymakers, ministers, technical experts, development practitioners, and public administration leaders from across Africa to chart practical strategies for strengthening governance institutions and building resilient health workforce systems.
A Continent Facing Workforce Pressures
Africa continues to face severe human resource shortages in healthcare. According to global health estimates, many African countries remain below the recommended threshold of skilled health professionals needed to deliver essential health services, contributing to unequal access to care, preventable mortality, and overstretched health systems.
Experts say public-sector governance weaknesses including fragmented institutions, bureaucratic inefficiencies, inadequate workforce planning, financing gaps, and uneven administrative capacity have compounded healthcare delivery challenges across several African states.
The Abidjan summit is therefore expected to focus on policy coordination, institutional strengthening, workforce sustainability, and governance reforms designed to improve public-sector performance and enhance citizen-centered service delivery.
Participants are also expected to deliberate on mechanisms for improving health worker recruitment, retention, training, motivation, and accountability while strengthening civil service systems that underpin national community health programs.
HaPSNA’s Expanding Continental Role
The Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) has increasingly emerged as a collaborative continental platform committed to strengthening governance systems, improving public service effectiveness, and promoting the development of competent, motivated, and sustainable health workforce structures across Africa.
Established to facilitate cross-country collaboration and knowledge exchange, the network encourages governments to adopt evidence-based public sector reforms and strengthen institutional frameworks necessary for efficient service delivery.
HaPSNA receives support from the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC), a development institution working with governments across Africa and the Caribbean to advance universal health coverage, institutional capacity building, workforce development, and South–South cooperation initiatives.
Development specialists say such regional collaborations are becoming increasingly essential as African governments seek locally driven solutions to systemic healthcare and governance bottlenecks.
Joekai Calls for Renewed Continental Commitment
Ahead of the summit, Dr. Joekai called on participating countries to renew their collective commitment toward stronger governance systems and more effective public institutions capable of responding to citizens’ changing social and healthcare needs.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening public service delivery and building resilient health workforce systems that can better withstand emerging pressures ranging from disease outbreaks and demographic expansion to increasing demand for quality healthcare access.
Observers say his appeal aligns with broader continental reform efforts aimed at modernizing civil service systems and ensuring stronger accountability mechanisms in public institutions.
Liberia’s Growing Leadership Role
Dr. Joekai’s participation also underscores Liberia’s increasing engagement in continental governance and public administration reforms.
Currently serving the second year of his two-year tenure as Chairman of HaPSNA, the Liberian civil service chief has helped lead policy discussions focused on institutional modernization, workforce development, and governance strengthening across African public sectors.
Analysts note that Liberia’s leadership in continental public service dialogue comes as African countries increasingly recognize that stronger governance institutions and effective civil service systems are critical to improving health outcomes, economic productivity, and national resilience.
With policymakers expected to unveil recommendations and collaborative pathways at the conclusion of the meeting, the Abidjan summit is anticipated to shape discussions on how African governments can better align civil service reforms with health workforce development priorities in pursuit of stronger and more equitable public services.
