Government, four agencies sign Charter

Accra, Jan. 09, GNA - The government and Heads of four public sector agencies on Wednesday signed a New Charter aimed to enhance efficient and timely service delivery to the public. Heads of Births and Deaths Registry, Passport Office, Public Records and Archives Administration Department and Rent Control Department all pledged in the charter to deliver to clients within stipulated time lines.

Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, Special Advisor to the President signed on behalf of the President, while the respective Heads initialled for their agencies.

President John Agyekum Kufuor in October last year launched the Charter as a means to make the public service more responsive and accountable. So far 11 agencies within the land and revenue sectors had signed the charter.

Launching the report, Mrs. Chinery-Hesse said the new Charter forms part of the government's objective to transform the Public Service to deliver quality service within the shortest possible time. It is also a response to curtail the widespread irritation, frustration and desperation encountered by the public in effort to access public services and opportunities.

"This was intended to put an end to the system where clients receive prompt and satisfactory services because of who they are, whom they know, the weight of their pocket-books or where they come from," she said.

She added that the practice had put the poor and people without connection at a disadvantage.

Mrs. Chinery-Hesse said public perception of, and experience with, the quality and mode of delivery of services provided by the public service organisations had not been very positive and satisfactory. The new Charter therefore impresses upon the organisations to focus on their core activities to deliver services within agreed time frames and the provision of a conducive environment for the private sector to play a leading role, she added.

Mrs Chinery-Hesse said unless the public sector performed its services effectively, the government's agenda would not be met and called on the four agencies to take serious steps to improve on their services and re-orient their workers for a positive attitudinal change towards their clients.

She said it was the duty of the public to complain to the Central Complaints Unit that had been established at the Office of the President when services provided by the agencies were not satisfactory. Mr. Samuel Owusu-Agyei, Minister of Public Sector Reform, said the Ministry would provide the necessary support to all agencies to develop and launch their charters. He said a Charter Handbook was being drawn up and would soon be made available to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to help them formulate their own charters.