Koforidua, April 27, GNA - Mr Akwasi Amankwah, Eastern Regional Director of Information Services Department (ISD), has called on the staff to upgrade their knowledge and skills to be relevant to the country.

He said vacancies existed in all grades at the department and with further education staff could utilise those opportunities to improve their living standards.

Mr Amankwa made the call at a send-off party organised for nine retirees and two others of the department being transferred from the Region for their meritorious service to the growth of the department.

They included Mr E.H. Appeaning, immediate past Eastern Regional Director, Mr Apea Twum, a former New Juaben Municipal Information Officer who has been transferred to Central Region and Mr Seth Aboagye who has been transferred to Brong-Ahafo Region.

Mr Amankwa noted that the mandate of explaining government

policies such as budget statements and other programmes to the

people were crucial that required members of the service to

reposition themselves to meet the demand. He pointed out that most Ghanaians relied on the explanation of

policies by staff of ISD and urge them to be dedicated and

committed to their job. Mr Amankwa said "it is only when you have work assiduously

and faithfully through your career that you could retire meritoriously

and happily as other pensioners." Mr Appeaning on behalf of the retirees recounted the challenges

that they faced in the job but added that conditions had improved and urged them to work efficiently and effectively. He advised the newly recruited staff to be respectful and loyal to their superiors to learn from their experience and improve upon them and pledged to always make themselves available for their

knowledge to be tapped for the development of the department.