ISD requires massive resource injection

Koforidua, April 28, GNA - The Deputy Director of Information Services Department (ISD) in-charge of Finance/Administration, Mr Mark Woyongo, has stressed the need for a comprehensive resource allocation to the Department to ensure adequate flow of information from government to the people and vice versa.

He called for the provision of logistics such as vans and Public Address Equipment (PAE) to the districts so that they would be able to discharge their functions effectively.

Mr Woyongo, who was addressing a meeting of the Eastern Regional staff and District Information Officers at Koforidua on Wednesday, expressed concern about the long neglect in resourcing the Department until lately, which he noted resulted in the running down of equipment and infrastructure as well as depletion of staff.

He expressed misgivings about the erroneous perception in certain quarters that the Department was the propaganda wing of government and therefore, did not deserve official or donor support.

Mr. Woyongo cautioned the staff that the Directorate would not compromise on the issue of daily reports from the regions and districts and urged them to be abreast with government polices and programmes to be able to educate the people on them.

He said all district offices with electricity and telephone connections were provided with fax machines while all the regional offices had computers and internet connectivity to facilitate information dissemination to the head office.

The Deputy Director said a series of training programmes had been lined up for them both locally and abroad and urged them to work hard to improve the output expected of the Department.

The Eastern Regional Information Officer, Mr Edwin H. Appeaning, called on the Directorate to take a critical look at the poor staffing position in the region, saying the Department had district offices in only ten out of the 17 districts.

According to him, the situation was not only hampering the discharge of their duties but affecting discipline. Mr. Appeaning also urged the staff to help raise and maintain the good image of the Department since that was the only way its credibility as the main information agency of the government could be assured.

Later, a send-off party was held in honour of ten retirees of the Department including the former Eastern Regional Information Officer, Mr L.K. Darko and Mr K. Annoh-Afari, former New Juaben Municipal Information Officer who were presented with parting gifts.