Deputy Minister vows to punish absentee workers

The Deputy Upper West Region Minister, Abu Kansangbata has warned public and civil servants in the region to desist from absenting themselves from office on Fridays.

He said such deviants will face the wrath of the Upper East regional coordinating council.

Mr. Kansangbata said it has come to their notice that some workers in the region especially at the Wa Municipal Assembly either refuse to come to work on Fridays or fail to turn up after observing the Friday Muslim prayers.

He gave the warning in an exclusive interview with Joy News shortly after making a surprise visit to the Wa Municipal Assembly.

Mr. Kansangbata who arrived at the premises of the Wa Municipal Assembly at 0745GMT only met the Coordinating Director and three other senior officers.

An hour later, over a dozen of junior staff walked in only to see the deputy minister seated at the verandah waiting for them.

The workers could not give any reason tangible reason for coming late to the office, the deputy minister observed.

He then directed the Deputy Coordinating Director to write query letters for them to explain why there were late.

In almost all the offices that were entered into by the deputy minister, some of the workers were not at post and with few offices still locked.

Later in an interview, Mr. Kansangabata said the crusade embarked on by the ministry to ensure that workers are punctual to work is yielding the desired results.

He said those found culpable will be severely dealt with using the civil servants code of ethics and conduct.

He said “Religion should not be a factor or hindrance to one's work. I am a Muslim and I know that we don't stay in the mosque the whole day", he insisted.