Tony Aidoo
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10th May, 2010
TONY AIDOO'S CONCERNS
Dr Tony Aidoo, Head of Policy Evaluation and Oversight Unit at the Presidency, has touched on a very disturbing phenomenon within the civil service which every well-meaning Ghanaian would support.
He criticised the various ministries for engaging in acts that undermine effective policy conceptualisation, formulation, implementation and evaluation.
Taking his turn in a recent dialogue at the first ever Ghana Policy Fair in Accra, Dr Aidoo said it was disheartening that feedback to questionnaires he circulated to over 20 ministries aimed at effective policy implementation had virtually hit the rocks.
The Times cannot agree more with Dr Aidoo’s outrage because the civil service is the engine of growth of the government machinery.
Therefore, for the government to achieve results in its policy formulation and implementation it behoves the civil service to function effectively.
It is an undeniable fact that the service has lost its credibility in the eyes of discerning Ghanaians. There is an allegation that one has to pay one’s way to get services rendered by staff of the civil service.
We recall that some pensioners in the Volta Region recently alleged that some personnel at the Accountant General’s Department demanded money from them before processing their pension document.
This and many other complaints go to tarnish the reputation of the civil service.
That is why the Times understands the frustration of Dr Aidoo that the ministries do not have the capacity, technological and human resource to be able to deliver effectively on its core mandate.
While we appeal to the sector ministers to make sure that those working under them give of their best, in terms of service delivery, we also suggest that the public sector reform programme be intensified to make the civil service more vibrant and credible to support the government in its ‘Better Ghana’ agenda.
We further suggest the establishment of client service in all public sector organisations with the capacity of providing information needed by the public to quickly handle complaints about service delivery of civil servants.
We hope that the Single Spine Salary Structure being introduced by the government will help motivate and attract qualified and experience personnel to the civil service to effectively deliver the mandate of the government.
There is no doubt that this country needs committed civil and public servants who can deliver.
He criticised the various ministries for engaging in acts that undermine effective policy conceptualisation, formulation, implementation and evaluation.
Taking his turn in a recent dialogue at the first ever Ghana Policy Fair in Accra, Dr Aidoo said it was disheartening that feedback to questionnaires he circulated to over 20 ministries aimed at effective policy implementation had virtually hit the rocks.
The Times cannot agree more with Dr Aidoo’s outrage because the civil service is the engine of growth of the government machinery.
Therefore, for the government to achieve results in its policy formulation and implementation it behoves the civil service to function effectively.
It is an undeniable fact that the service has lost its credibility in the eyes of discerning Ghanaians. There is an allegation that one has to pay one’s way to get services rendered by staff of the civil service.
We recall that some pensioners in the Volta Region recently alleged that some personnel at the Accountant General’s Department demanded money from them before processing their pension document.
This and many other complaints go to tarnish the reputation of the civil service.
That is why the Times understands the frustration of Dr Aidoo that the ministries do not have the capacity, technological and human resource to be able to deliver effectively on its core mandate.
While we appeal to the sector ministers to make sure that those working under them give of their best, in terms of service delivery, we also suggest that the public sector reform programme be intensified to make the civil service more vibrant and credible to support the government in its ‘Better Ghana’ agenda.
We further suggest the establishment of client service in all public sector organisations with the capacity of providing information needed by the public to quickly handle complaints about service delivery of civil servants.
We hope that the Single Spine Salary Structure being introduced by the government will help motivate and attract qualified and experience personnel to the civil service to effectively deliver the mandate of the government.
There is no doubt that this country needs committed civil and public servants who can deliver.
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