Consider engaging creative and innovative people – Dr. Awal to Public Services Commission

Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has entreated the Public Services Commission (P.S.C) to endeavor to consider the employment of more skilled, creative and innovative people.

This he explained has the power to positively influence the unemployment gab in this sector to help grow the creative and innovative group.

He made the appeal during a courtesy call by the Head and Management of the Public Services Commission to enlighten the sector Ministers on their mandate this Thursday, 12 August,2021.

Dr. Awal however requested the team to come out with a clear-cut succession plan to ensure the smooth takeover and continuation of work, avoid interruptions and hindrances that comes with poor or no succession plan patterns.

The Board Chair of P.S.C Dr. Janet Ampadu Fofie, took time to welcome the ministers to the Public Service and explained their visit as an informative one aimed at bringing the minister up to speed on the mandate of the Commission, a move she said would position them well in working with their staff to achieve governments objective for the sector.

Dr. Ampadu Fofie explained that, out of the 250 government agencies, Civil Servants are the least, with four thousand (4,000) Staff and the rest forming the public sector workers.

The secretary to the Commission, Ing. Mrs. Mabel Amoako-Atta took time to outline the core functions of P.S.C some of which included their authoritative advisory role to ensure best practices in Human Resource Management and Development.

“We have important evaluation roles in working with agencies to ensure that Ghana’s Public service is performing effectively and consistently in consonance with Ghana Public Service rules” She opined.

Ing. Mrs. Amoako-Atta referenced article 194 of the Fourth Republic 1992 constitution which recognizes the Commission and allows it to perform functions detailed in same constitution including supervisory, regulatory and consultative.

Honorable Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture sought few clarifications on the extension of service years given to selected staff and required to know the qualification one needs to get a year or more to serve at a public office.

He also wanted to know who sets targets for public sector workers and what happens if such targets are not met.

In response, the Public Services Commission clarified that although the retirement age is 60, there are special exigencies that allows for some staff to stay a year or more to execute their jobs. According to P.S.C such is allowed if necessary but not exceeding five years.

On the issue of Targets, the Service according to P.S.C has outlined structures that monitors performances and targets and if not met, could be properly investigated and appropriate sanctions applied.

Present at the meeting were management of the Ministry of Tourism Arts, and Culture and its Head of departments and Agencies.