Civil Servants Association Can only meet with prior approval

The Civil Servants Association (CSA) will now have to apply for and obtain approval from the Head Of Civil before holding any meeting.

The directive, according to the Ahafo Regional Co-ordinator, Mr. John Ardey-Ankrah, is contained in a letter received from the Head of Civil Servants.. Briefing heads of departments in the Asutifi District at a meeting at Kenyasi at the weekend, Mr. Arddey-Ankrah said the letter stipulates that the CSA CSA in Accra must address its application to the head of Civil Service while the regional and districts branches are to address branches are their regioanal and district to co-ordinating directors.

According to Mr. Arddy-Ankrah, after receiving the application and in consultation with the political head in the area, may give clearence for the meeting.

Meetings outside office hours and non-working days do not, however fall within the directive of the letter, he said. Mr. Arddey-Ankrah explained that the directive is to enable government to help promote the efficient functioning of its machinery without constant disrupttions.

The letter, he said states that government is aware of the useful role the association is playing in its efforts to foster understanding and good working relations with it, and that it is prepared to co-operate to ensure that the operations of the interfered with.

Mr. Francis Fordjour, Asutifi District Chief Executive, said the district assembly was doing all it could to solve some of the problems facing heads of departments..

For instance, the assembly was using part of its share of the common fund to build administrative offices and bungalows to solve the acute accomodation problem facing workers.

Mr. Fordjour called on heads of departments to sacrifice a little for the district which he described as the "second most deprived in the region.