Gov't Accepts NDC Reform Programme

Following an extensive overview of the NDC led Public Sector Reforms (PSR), the government has decided to implement a redesigned version of the programme starting next January. The NDC started the programme six years ago.

According to a Ghana News Agency report, the overview involves a six-month road map and re-tooling programme that would be completed by September 30, to form the basis of a comprehensive, coordinated and prioritised programme of reforms.

Consequently, President, Kufuor had given ministerial responsibility for oversight and coordination of the Public Sector and Institutional Reform Agenda to the Senior Minister, J. H. Mensah, to give the PSR the needed impetus.

The GNA quoted Minister of State at the Office of the Senior Minister Alhaji Ben Bukari Salifu as suggesting that contrary to public fears, the exercise won the hearts of donor partners like the British Department for International Development and that it “would not necessarily lead to retrenchment of labour.”

Government would not reject the option of employing more personnel in areas where they are needed,” he said, adding that “the recent appointments of Chief Directors for the Civil Service was in line with the redesigning process to ensure the engagement of “a well-motivated and performance-oriented corps of ‘change agents’.

”He was of the opinion that these corps of change agents would be deployed to key, strategic positions within the Service”. Alhaji Salifu is also reported to have submitted that the reform programme would be structured in a way that will make the Controller and Accountant Generals’ Department more responsive.

The Public Sector Reform programme was meant to improve the Civil Service and National Governance; National Institutional Renewal; Public Financial Management and Decentralisation. According to Alhaji Bukari, their information was that the programme basically failed to deliver expected results in the area of enhanced service delivery, cost effectiveness and accountability of the Public Service.

But he attributed the disappointment in these sectors to a “lack of the political will required to move the reform agenda forward.” He, however, said considerable amount of work had been undertaken on the Programme.