My Experience As A National Service Personnel Of The Ministry Of Sanitation And Water Resources

I resumed my official duty as a National Service Person, on the 4^th September 2017 serving as an Office Assistant. By law, a mandatory one-year National Service is required of each and every tertiary graduate in Ghana to adhere to.

I was posted to the Ministry of Sanitation And Water Resources in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). The Ministry’s mandate is to make policies that will enable every Ghanaian have equal access to sustainable water and improved sanitation. This Ministry was created by His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo- Addo on the 11^th of January, 2017; and headed by Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda (Minister).

During my service, I provided administrative support to the Water Directorate. This includes drafting of official letters, memos, and writing of minutes of meetings and reports. Also, I had opportunities to be part of official meetings and the first meeting was on the Drafting of Water Safety Plans Framework Template for Tracking Water Quality at the District Level in the Country. Most of them were implemented or at the piloting stage and the outcomes were good. I think this is one of the best policy frameworks I have seen because as nation we should be concerned about the water we drink are free from impurities.

Another initiative from the Ministry I valued is the launch of National Sanitation Campaign. I am proud to be part of the organizers from the Ministry to have launched it; because annually about one million tons of wastes are being left uncollected which pollutes the environment in the capital city, Accra. Reports also indicated that spread of diseases especially the communicable ones and deaths are linked to poor sanitation. In this regard, I think the campaign of creating awareness on the proper practice of sanitation is in good direction.

Apart from working in the office, I was sent out to either dispatch official letters or buy office materials to be used in the directorate. At times I will hop in the office car and driven by a driver on duty. I enjoyed the travels but no one knows about it. I liked it because always I see new areas and the fact that the sights alone challenged me to work harder and improve my life and others in the society motivated me a lot. I saw reality, a reality that there is a gap between most government socio-economic policies from sectors and the improvement of lives of Ghanaians especially in Accra. The effort government is making to improve lives is not targeting most Ghanaians as they are left in the streets of Accra to wallow in poverty. These are children that need government support because they have good aspirations for future.

Also, I enjoyed very good relationship with other directors and staffs. I think they are hospitable to be around with. From Water, Procurement and Sanitation Directorates, I did not only interact with them, but I learnt how things happen in each unit. Again my service may not be complete without my relations with other national service personnel of my class. I love them and they are welcoming. We sat and chat bout different kinds of topics. Some about business ideas, politics and relationships. In fact my relationship with them is ‘’highest of special’’ (Donald T., 2018).

However, these duties and responsibilities didn’t come as easy as I expected it. From the beginning, in the first month, even though I have learnt extensively about public policies, practicing them at the Ministry are purely technical and demanding. In the fields, things seemed to me differently. But I never taken aback as I remained committed and monitored the work well. Most importantly I made mistakes and learnt from them. It appears to me that, each day I made some mistakes and changed for better. I appreciated them as I begun to form good pinion about how to do them in professional ways. And it worked.

On the flipside, I had to put-down the amour of shyness and make eye-contact and familiarize with my four bosses and the working environment in order to work with them on professional level. I must admit that for the first time this has been a challenge interacting with them and the fact that I was fresh graduate and also all my bosses are females. Imagine if there is a gender balance there? Huh.. Situation that might drive some male workers out of the office because of different ways of doing things. But as I continued to the next month, things began working well with me. Did I talk about buying of foods for the madams? No. I know this has being the norm for a service personnel; buying of foods for the stuff is another task. I did this from the starting to the end of service. Not easy but I leant how to buy items.

Apart from walking through Tudu; an overcrowded market place and all the difficulties in passing there and those stench I encountered, I managed to buy six shoes in all and the fact that all of them spoiled out of repairs I can’t boast of them. Actually starting national service in Accra with all the challenges in getting accommodation and money to board car to work is something most les-privileged feared like me. But in all what I know is life is pushing me rounds to learn how to make money and better myself and lots of somebody in the society. At some point I figured it that I over managed my little resources.

At times, when I board a car, I don’t open the door before entering. Some people opened it for me like I’m a royal priest and then they led me out when I want to alight. Always this was the trend anytime I board ‘’trotro’’ car and with all the pains I have to endure in those cars, because none of them is in good condition. But this wasn’t an excuse though. However, I think government should make a policy that will encourage these drivers to upgrade their cars into good and convenient status since they receive money anytime we board their cars.

Today mission is accomplished. I finished my one-year service. I enjoyed the service but I liked the pressure of it than anything else because it has prepared me well for the things I want to do as a businessman and politician. I can now handle most of administrative works including writing of letters, memos, and minutes of meetings like the way civil servants do. Thanks to the well dedicated and professional staffs I worked with and their contributions toward my new experience. I will never forget the Great Four: Madam Suzzy, Sethina, Patricia, Jose and Sir Tony, for their mentoring and encouragements. Thank you all.

God bless you and the Water Directorate.