Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has initiated an administrative inquiry into the selection and appointment processes within Papua New Guinea’s public service, raising serious concerns about breaches of merit-based recruitment and possible undue influence in recent high-level appointments.
The inquiry commenced on Friday, 16 May, following directions from the National Executive Council and the Minister for Public Service. It was formally opened with officials from the Department of Personnel Management (DPM), including Secretary Taies Sansan , as well as the chairman and commissioners of the Public Services Commission (PSC).
Prime Minister Marape said the inquiry is necessary to examine the internal functions of both DPM and PSC — two institutions at the core of public sector governance — amid growing evidence that appointments are being influenced by personal interests and political interference.
“We are concerned that personal preferences and external pressures are creeping into what should be a purely merit-based selection process,” Prime Minister Marape said. “This inquiry is about identifying where the system has broken down and how we can fix it.”
The selection processes for the Commissioner of Correctional Services and the Secretary for Health are being used as case examples in the inquiry. Both cases have triggered alarms regarding possible procedural breaches, especially around confidentiality and information security.
“In recent appointments, candidates have somehow become aware of where they stand in the process — whether they are on the five-name shortlist from DPM or the three-name list from PSC. This points to serious flaws in the integrity of the system,” the Prime Minister said.
To safeguard future appointments, Prime Minister Marape has directed that an ICT-based solution be explored and implemented as soon as possible to reduce human interference and restore transparency.
“This investigation is not about punishing anyone,” he said. “It is about correcting a flawed system and ensuring that future appointments in the public service are genuinely based on merit.”
He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to building a strong, independent, and professional public service that serves the people of Papua New Guinea with integrity and competence.