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Leveraging Trust to Enhance the Public Sector Brand in Africa

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New Public Management in Africa

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies of Public Sector Management in Africa ((PSPSMA))

Abstract

The African continent is faced with several administrative challenges, compelling some countries to re-evaluate their governance systems. Their public sector reforms are evidence of the New Public Management and Public Value Management paradigms for enhanced public sector administration and operations. This chapter discusses trust in the intricate relationship between the state and the society. On the one hand, trust makes it conducive for the citizens to voluntarily conform to policy programmes, particularly when the government and its institutions are perceived as a trustworthy brand. On the other hand, low levels of trust diminish support for government policies and undermine policy legitimacy and implementation, leading to low compliance. The chapter emphasises the role of trust in public sector management in the African continent to foster good governance in the immediate future and beyond. Transparency and accountability, integrity of government officials, fulfilment of promises, a culture of excellence, and flexibility to change are recommended as strategies to build a trustworthy public sector brand in Africa.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Nigeria

    Ogechi Adeola

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  1. Ogechi Adeola
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Correspondence to Ogechi Adeola .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana

    Robert E. Hinson

  2. Center for Research & Enterprise, Bloomsbury Institute, London, UK

    Nnamdi Madichie

  3. Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Nigeria

    Ogechi Adeola

  4. University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana

    Justice Nyigmah Bawole

  5. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria

    Isaiah Adisa

  6. University of Ghana Business School, Accra, Ghana

    Kwame Asamoah

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Adeola, O. (2022). Leveraging Trust to Enhance the Public Sector Brand in Africa. In: Hinson, R.E., Madichie, N., Adeola, O., Nyigmah Bawole, J., Adisa, I., Asamoah, K. (eds) New Public Management in Africa. Palgrave Studies of Public Sector Management in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77181-2_3

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