Fast track end to subvention - CSOs urge gov't

Government should fast-track the process to wean-off subvented agencies that are able to generate enough internally generated funds to sustain their operations, the Civil Society Forum on Ghana’s IMF Programme has said.

In a communiqué released by the Forum in Accra, it said there are still more ‘ghosts’ on the payroll in spite of the progress made, and that “efforts will have to be intensified to clean-up the payroll”.

The forum brought together 60 participants from civil society, professional associations, government agencies, traditional rulers, political parties, media, academia and other identifiable groups in Ghana.

As part of its fiscal consolidation efforts, government has said it will wean-off some institutions this year, and is assessing the feasibility of withdrawing support from more.

Those on the verge of being weaned-off include the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Commission, Data Protection Commission, Gaming Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission -- which requested on its own to be taken off government support.

All these will eventually be converted into companies, whereby they will basically be run as a company without any subvention from government.

The forum also suggested that government should link productivity with pay in the civil service and also introduce fixed-term working contracts to both middle- and high-level civil service workers to promote performance management.

Government will have to ensure timely release of funds to social protection allocations, as some delays were observed over the last year, the forum said.

According to participants at the forum, the Civil Society Platform should be partnered by the IMF and World Bank to independently monitor the social protection schemes and ensure that persons who actually need this support are the ones benefitting on the ground.

Participants also agreed that the forum is useful and there is a need for more regular open engagements between key stakeholders, government, the IMF and civil society on the IMF programme to shape policy devoid of partisanship for the ultimate good of Ghana.

Chairman of the Civil Society Platform on Ghana’s IMF Programme Mr. Joseph Winful said good governance, and democracy for that matter, goes beyond human rights and voting during elections to include prudent economic management, accountability and transparency.

He called on all citizens at all levels and the political leadership to do the right things to turn the country’s fortunes around, adding that Ghanaians should not stay aloof but speak out, share ideas and engage government.