Clients services unit to be established at district assemblies

The Ministry of Public Sector Reforms is to set up client services unit at Fanteakwa and Afram Plains District assemblies as part of the national reforms programmes.

The success of the two districts would be emulated by the rest of the districts in the region as part of the reforms.

Dr Paa Kwasi Nduom, the Minster of Public Sector Reforms, said this at a forum to share information about the public reforms with representatives of public service institutions in the region at Koforidua on Thursday.

He said 22 organizations including Driver Vehicle Licence Authority (DVLA), Survey Department and Lands Commission had established client services units and that had improved efficiency in those institutions.

The minister said in DVLA revenue generation had increased by 20 percent since the establishment of the unit that deals directly with clients and also ensures that all monies paid got into government chest.

To him the habit where public offices had turned into marketing areas where all kinds of goods ranging from "bread to goats are sold is appalling and degrading to all public sector workers".

Mr Nduom said pay reforms in the public sector were the highest priority among the comprehensive programmes being handled by his ministry, including the provision of proper office equipment and facilities to make all public working places conducive.

He told the participants that the government acknowledged that wages in the public sector were not good hence the setting up of the ministerial committee whose recommendation would be captured in the 2008 budget.

Dr Nduom said there was an urgent need to vigorously support the entire public sector reform programme to strengthen Ghana's ability to meet the national goal of becoming a middle income country in the next few years.

The head of the Local Government Council, Nana Rex Owusu Ansah, said as part of the public sector reforms, workers in the MMDA's and other decentralized public agencies would be put under an umbrella called the local government service.

He said this was to complement the efforts of the civil service to deepen the decentralization process and assured workers that the transition would not affect salaries and status.

Source: GNA