Public Sector Reform would be .... - Dr Nduom

Ho, Aug. 1, GNA - The Public Sector Reforms would be pursued to their logical conclusion by government.

"Indeed the President is eager to have the programme stand to his credit when he leaves office," Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Public Sector Reforms, said during an interaction with Civil Servants from the Greater Accra and Volta Regions in Ho on Monday.

He said President Kufuor would supervise and preside over all deliberations and implementation of the programme.

"This Friday, August 5, the President is giving the Ministry of Public Sector Reforms (MPSR) a unique opportunity to present to Government the President and all his Ministers, recommendations to reform the Public Sector with emphasis on the Civil Service," Dr Nduom said.

He said once the recommendations were discussed and adopted by the Ministers, the necessary financial arrangements would be put in place for the implementation of the programme.

Dr Nduom said next year's Budget would take care of providing Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities generally in the public sector institutions including the Civil Service.

Dr Nduom said the recommendations the MPSR would table at the ministerial meeting included a centralised training and education in the Civil Service to give everyone a fair opportunity for training for his or her work; creation of a Senior Civil Service, equipping the Civil Service Training Centres and Government Secretarial Schools and putting everyone in the Public Service on the Ghana Universal Salary Scheme (GUSS) to remove discrepancies in salaries between the Civil Service and other services to promote equity and consistency in pay administration.

The others were quantifying over a period of time, benefits regarding housing, utilities and transportation into cash payment to make for better pay and pension and improving wages and salaries over a period of time in a sustainable way.

He said the reforms of the Civil Service were vital for efficient delivery and performance of Government business and enhancing private sector vitality.

"We must all be prepared to change our attitudes to work so that we can present a better image of the Civil Service," he said.

Mr Smart Chibagatia, Executive Secretary of the Civil Servants Association (CSA), hinted that the proposed pension reforms held great promise for those under Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Pension.

Referring to the new pension, he said, "if it takes off it can march with Cap 30 but later it will be more than Cap 30."

He advised Civil Servants not to resort to discussing their grievances on the radio; they should rather channel their misgivings to their leaders.

Mr Chibagatia said the CSA Leadership was negotiating with the Government to adjust their salaries by August this year.