Change managt teams to speed up decentralisation of Agric Ministry

Saltpond, April 29, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in collaboration with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) has set up Change Management Teams CMTS) in the district and regional directorates to facilitate the implementation of changes being made to enhance decentralization within the ministry.

The formation of the CMTs was in line with recommendations of a consultant appointed to help restructure the ministry to make it more responsive to the challenges of the time.

Mrs. Felicia Ansah-Amprofi, Mfantseman District Director of Agriculture made this known when she briefed the Ghana News Agency at a kick-off workshop organized for CMT members from six districts at Saltpond.

The workshop, which aimed at defining the roles of the teams, was the second in the series in the Central Region, the first was held at Assin Fosu for six districts.

Mrs. Ansah-Amprofi said the five-member CMTs were, among other things, to define action plans, implement plans and policies, identify important issues concerning activities of the districts, identify training need and organise training programmes.

The CMT is to be composed of a Deputy Agriculture Director, District Development Officer (DDO), Agriculture Extension Agent, Farmers Representative and Assembly member and an NGO.

She said change facilitators had been appointed in the regions to assist the CMTs to perform their roles effectively.

Mr. John Kwesi Assan, Central Regional change facilitator, who was the resource person at the workshop, said though the CMT were inaugurated last year they could not perform effectively because their roles were not clearly defined.

Mr. Assan said the teams would start full operation after the workshops.