Nduom’s Ministry supports Public Services Commission

The Ministry of Public Sector Reform and the Public Services Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding by which the commission will support to improve its service delivery and performance orientation.
Under the agreement, which will operate for a period of nine months, the ministry will assist the commission with an initial amount of US$250,000.

Specific areas of intervention include development and deployment of website for the Commission, building a human resource data bank and strengthening institutional capacity.

An in-depth reform impact assessments will be conducted at the beginning of 2007 to determine the need or otherwise for further support and its quantum.

Dr. Paa Kwei Nduom, Minister of Public Sector Reform, signed on behalf of the ministry, and Prof Samuel N. Woode for the Commission.

Dr. Nduom stated that the Commission had gone through the basic principles and processes of the reforms and was now deepening the implementation process, including all aspects of training and motivation.

He said a good human resource management system was needed to attract and retain capable public servants, place the right person in the right post in a timely manner and improve motivation that would result in better service delivery.

He stressed that the implementation of personnel management information system will provide the public with a critical tool to effectively plan, manage and monitor its human resources.

He said quarterly reports on the Commission's performance would be submitted, to serve as a basis for monitoring and evaluation activities as well as the in-depth assessment of the transformation impact planned for 2007. Dr. Nduom said his ministry would ensure that funds were used for the intended purposes, and that the financial management guidelines by the ministry were followed.

“Monthly and quarterly meetings involving the Commission's management team members and the ministry staff shall be institutionalized,” he said, adding that the main agenda was progress reporting and flagging of implementation issues.

A separate but complementary agreement would be signed with mutually agreed independent consultants that would be engage to assist with the impact assessment, the minister disclosed.

“It is incumbent on both parties to work closely together to ensure the successful completion of the transformation process in line with the objectives of the reform,” Dr. Nduom said.

On his part, Prof Woode assured the Commission would use the money for the aims of the project.

Among those who witnessed the signing ceremony were Mrs. Rebecca Amoo Aboagye, Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Jones Ackor, Technical Director of the Ministry, and Mrs. Janet Fofie, of the Commission.