Government to check sinecure in public sector

Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills said on Thursday that Government would release funds to the Public Services Commission (PSC) to conduct staff auditing in the public sector to halt the practice of paying workers for little or no work done.

President Mills made the statement when he swore-in two persons into the Public Service Commission.

He said the incidence had rendered the public sector a consumer of a high percentage of Government revenue.

“You can’t pay somebody for doing no work, and we must make sure we rationalise so that the people who would be retained would justify their retention,” President Mills said.

Those sworn in were Dr Lawrence Akanweeke Kannae, a Management Consultant and Mr Michael Kofi Gabah, former Secretary to the Commission, as Vice Chairperson and Member respectively.

Their swearing in gives the Commission have its full complement of membership.

President Mills observed that much as it was Government’s determination to make jobs available, it would not waste national resources on people who were employed but did virtually no work at their workplaces.

He said the situation was so serious in some public sector establishments that an instance was cited where there were 15 drivers for only five vehicles.

President Mills said the Commission was at the very foundation of the national governance system, and urged the two persons to see themselves as part of the solutions to the challenges of the Public Service.

He commended the two personalities and reminded them that their appointments were based on their expertise, experience and background, and that they were the kind of people needed to supplement the effort of Government in building a more vibrant public service.

“I want you to do your work without fear or favour,” President Mills advised, and urged them to resist pressures that would come their way as they discharged their duties.

“Protect your reputation and do what is right for Mother Ghana and you’ll succeed,” President Mills said.

Mr James Bebaako-Mensah, Secretary to the President, urged the two personalities to work in concert with Government’s aspirations, explaining that a good Public Service was essential for the success of Government business.

“Don’t let our aspirations be for nothing,” he advised.

Mrs Bridget Katsriku, Chairperson of the Commission, who described Mr Gabah, as “Dictionary of the Public Service,” expressed concern about the size of the Public Service, and called for Government’s support in addressing the challenges of the Service.

Dr Kannae, on behalf of his colleague, expressed appreciation to the President for the confidence reposed in them.

He announced that the Commission had initiated a number of programmes for an improvement in the performance of the human resource and staff management for the Service to reclaim its glory as one of the best in the Commonwealth.