Civil Service is the engine of growth, not private sector- Director

Kpando, Sept. 23, GNA - Mr Omar Amadu-Dabou, Kpando District Co-ordinating Director has discredited the assertion that the private sector was the engine of growth.

He noted that it was rather the civil service that facilitate growth since adherence to the tenets, rules of engagement and regulations of the country's well-structured civil service was enough grounds to ensure the development of the private sector. Mr Dabou was speaking at a Civil Servants' Association staff dialogue at Kpando.

He said Ghana's civil service had been acclaimed as one of the best worldwide, adding that some of the products on secondments to the United Nations left indelible prints.

He listed former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan as example. Mr Dabou said interplay of the civil service and private sectors would however accelerate the attainment of the expected growth to facilitate a middle-income earning economy. He observed that corruption was pervasive in all spheres of the economy with attitude to time management constituting the worst form of corruption.

Mr Dabou noted that political interference, disrespect and ignorance were fast eroding the gains of the regimented service, to the extent that oath of secrecy, loyalty and other ethical codes were being sacrificed at the altar of partisan politics. He said if the phenomena was not addressed it could spell jeopardy for the service.

Mr Dabou urged civil servants to insist on their rights but should be aware that "rights and responsibility are bedfellows".