Regional Minister Meets Department Heads in Bolgatanga

Bolgatanga, March 5, GNA - Mr. Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, on Wednesday, asked heads of government departments to ensure the judicious use of resources allocated to their respective organizations. This, he said, had become necessary in view of government's policy to cut official expenditure down to the basics for the purpose of saving scarce revenue for development.

The Regional Minister stated these at his maiden meeting with heads of government departments, boards, and corporations in Bolgatanga. He arrived in the region nearly a week ago to commence work. He pointed out, for instance, that department heads would be doing the nation a disservice if government spent huge sums of money on the construction of a road only for potholes to appear shortly afterwards, while they looked on. "It is our duty to ensure that whatever projects government invests in, we derive value for money," he stressed, adding that his administration would not have sympathy for contractors who engaged in shoddy jobs.

Mr. Woyongo said the present government came to power with the promise of changing the life of the ordinary Ghanaian for the better. Therefore, he said, heads of departments as implementers of government policy at the regional level, should ensure that the change become visible in people's lives. He cautioned civil servants against any involvement in partisan politics, saying that they were bound to serve the government of the day and to help in the dissemination of government policy. He repeated an earlier statement that he was in the region to work with everyone irrespective of political affiliation, religious or ethnic background. "The development of the region is the collective responsibility that requires us all to put our shoulders to the wheel," he said.

The Regional Minister charged heads of departments to eschew lateness to work and to ensure that their subordinates did not only respect punctuality, but that they also worked diligently to earn the salaries they received. Mr. Samuel N'lary, Chief Director at the Regional Coordinating Council, assured the Regional Minister of the full cooperation and support of civil servants in the Region.