Veep expresses disappointment

Accra, Sept. 18, GNA- Vice President Aliu Mahama on Monday expressed the disappointment of the Executive at the low performance of the Ghana Civil Service, citing lack of creativity, innovation and hardwork as the major setbacks.

"These lapses made the Service fail to catch up or keep pace with modern technology in its operations. Hence its reliance on old, outmoded and manual methods and procedures has encouraged institutional corruption," he said.

Vice President Alhaji Mahama made the observation in Accra, when he opened an Accelerated Training Programme for the Leadership of the Ghana Civil Service: Chief Directors Component.

He lauded the training programme, which he said consists of modules developed to meet the current skills needs of the Service and arm the participants with the specific knowledge they require for optimum performance.

"It is therefore expect ed that the Chief Directors would address themselves assiduously to the tasks ahead of them and come out as change agents.

"I believe this training is therefore, expected to also repackage you from the public perception of a non-performing institution in the past and clothe you with a new image of a Service oriented partner in development."

Vice President Alhaji Mahama said the challenges of globalisation and technological advancement placed increased demand on leaders of public organisations for more creative and effective leadership. Such an effective leadership, he said, should have the ability to enunciate and engage a compelling vision for the future of every organisation.

He expressed the hope that the course would also facilitate the disbursement of the 547 million dollars Ghana attracted from the US under the Millennium Challenge Account to reduce poverty and generate wealth in the rural areas.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Public Sector Reform said the current Public Sector reforms aimed at ensuring that the sector delivered prompt, efficient and cost-effective services responsive to the needs and preferences of the citizenry.

It is also focussed on making public sector organisations more responsive to the needs of the private sector; and build capacity of employees to be transparent and productive to the Executive branch of Government.

Dr. Nduom said Government was determined to refocus the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to meet all the training needs of the Public Service.

"The training of the public services must become the main event at GIMPA," he emphasised.

Dr Nduom advocated pay reform in the Public Service, which would do away with the concept of basic pay and allowances of fringe benefits, adding: "It will be better if we all received one pay amount- consolidated, monetised."

Mr Joe Donkor Issachar, Head of the Civil Service said the performance capacity of the Service had declined over the years making it difficult for personnel to provide essential support to Government and other stakeholders.

"The perception is that the Civil Service lacks the drive and capacity to assist the Government in delivering its programmes, he said."

Dr Ebenezer Moses Debrah, Chairman of the Civil Service Council, who chaired the function said the training programme would assist the participants to tackle broad national development goals and agenda, stressing that the Civil Service remained critical in the formulation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of policies.

Professor Stephen Adei, Rector of GIMPA said the appointment of substantive Chief Directors for the service would boost efficiency and support Government's development agenda.

The three-week course would tackle training modules like: "Leadership and Strategic Management," "Decision making and Problem Solving, "Public Policy Formulation and Management," "Managing the Environment," and "Communication Skills."

The programme targets 600 senior level staff of the Civil Service and is being organised by the Ministry of Public Sector Reform in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and GIMPA.

In a related development, the Public Sector Ministry used the opening ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Civil Service for the judicious utilisation of 500,000 dollars the Ministry had allocated for the Office for training and capacity building.