Public Sector needs complete overhaul

Accra, June 22, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Public Sector Reform, on Thursday called for a complete overhaul of the Public Sector in Africa, but said it required the creation of a modern sub-continental public sector equipped with the right calibre of personnel with functional tools.

Addressing the opening of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministers of Public Service Conference in Accra, Dr Nduom said Africa was on the threshold of significant sub-continental development adding that the public demanded an effective and efficient service delivery from all public officials.

He said the theme for the conference: "Implementing the African Public Service Charter," put the Continent in a more unique position to set the pace for introducing innovations into the public administrative system and to make the sub-regional public service one of the best on the Continent.

The African Public Service Charter enjoins the Service to modernize all its administrative structures; adapt to the increasing globalization of the economies; create the enabling environment for the private sector growth and ensure that the public services discharged their vital mission of safeguarding the fundamental values and protecting public interest.

Public Service Ministers or their representatives from the Sub-Region, Chief Directors and Technical Officers from the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service Commission across the Continent are attending the Conference.

Dr Nduom said Ghana had a stable decentralized political government system, but fiscal and administrative decentralization remained a big challenge to transforming the rural economy so that the majority of the country's population could become prosperous.

He said that more needed to be done to contain the fast growing needs of the citizens in the Sub-Region.

"This is why this Conference should confirm our commitment as leaders of the Public Services in West Africa to the task of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency in the Public Services.=94

Dr Nduom paid tribute to public servants, who had served the Continent in various capacities, and urged the current Leadership to make sure that their names were etched in enviable roles in the years to come.

He said Ghana's initiative was to remind all that the improvements did not take place in a vacuum, but, within an Africa-wide policy, driven by innovation and award systems designed to improve creativity and productivity in the Public Service.

Dr Alaminu Minu, Assistant Executive Director of ECOWAS, said the Sub-Region had come a long way and could only move ahead in a rational mode of change and reforms that would set the public services on a new footing.

He noted that for the Private Sector to succeed, the Public Sector must be strengthened to offer sound and efficient services to the sector.