Minister urges staff to re-orient mindset

Kumasi, July 7, GNA - Mr. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture has asked registrars and other staff of the Ministry to re-orient their mindset and awaken themselves to the fact that, they now have a sector that was poised to promote the chieftaincy institution and cultural heritage of the country.

The ultimate objective of their activities should therefore, be the establishment of a performance-oriented organization that was capable of delivering efficient services to the institution of chieftaincy to enable it to contribute to the overall development of the country.

Speaking at his maiden meeting with registrars of National and Regional Houses of Chiefs, and traditional council registrars in Kumasi on Friday, Mr Boafo called for hard work, dedication and sacrifice from the staff to achieve the vision of the new Ministry. The meeting was to introduce himself and interact with the staff to know some of the problems facing them.

Mr Boafo intimated that, central to his vision for the new ministry was to promote effective and efficient system of chieftaincy administration and cultural spheres right from the traditional council level to the National House of Chiefs to ensure that chieftaincy disputes were reduced to the barest minimum so that peace, stability and progress that Ghana required for its development was achieved.

He reminded the staff that their functions had now shifted from only chieftaincy issues to chieftaincy together with culture and charged them to change their thinking to reflect on their new status. The Minister also urged the staff of the two sectors of the Ministry to work together as a team and be guided by the spirit of common purpose in the discharge of their duties.

He assured them that everything was being done to provide transportation and other office equipment to enhance the performance of their duties, while consultations were ongoing to improve the working conditions and salaries of the staff.

Mr Boafo called on the registrars to prepare strategic plans in consultation with their counterparts in the cultural sector in the regions and traditional councils for performance improvement, revenue generation and other business policies with the view to making the new ministry less dependent on the central government for funding. Mr F.E Nuamah, Registrar of the National House of Chiefs commended the government for creating a Ministry for the chieftaincy and culture in the country.

He mentioned inadequate staff, lack of office equipment and transportation as well as poor conditions of service and remuneration as some of the problems facing the staff.