Recruitment and Selection Strategies and Processes in Public Sector Organisations: Perceptions and Realities

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate the widely held perception that recruitment and selection into public sector organisations are influenced greatly by political interference, family connections, religious affiliation and the payment of money. The recruitment and selection processes of the Ghana Water Company in Ho were examined; 440 questionnaires were administered among selected management staff, current and redeployed employees of the Company and customers of the Company in the Ho Municipality. Opinion leaders and labour unions were also interviewed. It was found out that the recruitment and selection processes of the Company are merit based as 86.4% of the staff were employed purely on merit. Nevertheless, there were isolated cases of employment of a few people through political interference, family connections and other affiliations. The study recommends that the recruitment and selection processes into  public sector organisations should be treated with maximum credibility and integrity to eliminate perceptions of influences or factors other than merit.

Key words: Public sector organisations, recruitment and selection processes, political interference, family connections and religious affiliation.