ISD officials urged to be non-partisan

Kumasi, Aug 23, GNA- Officials of the Information Services Department (ISD) have been told to remain politically neutral in order to maintain their credibility.

Mr Divine Kwapong, acting Director of the ISD, who made the appeal, said officials of the department should not be seen jumping on political platforms to campaign for political parties.

He was opening a three-day orientation workshop for new Assistant Information Officers and journalists for the department in Kumasi on Monday.

Mr Kwapong urged the personnel of the department to be proactive and work closely with the district assemblies to ensure that government policies and programmes were communicated effectively and regularly to the public.

He said efforts were being made to transform the department into an executive agency, which would provide enhanced remuneration and better conditions of service in order to attract and retain staff. Efforts were also being made to network and equip all the regional and district offices of the department to ensure the smooth flow of information.

Mr Mark Woyongo, Deputy Director in-charge of Finance and Administration, who chaired the function, said the department was introducing a programme to enhance public education in view of the limited number of vans available to the department.

He said the department was collaborating with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Electoral Commission (EC), Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and other government agencies to educate the public on government policies and programmes.