General News of Saturday, 10 March 2001

Source: GNA

BUDGET: Contract Appointments Now limited to Medical Staff & Lecturers

Henceforth, all contract appointments within the public services and state-owned enterprises would be limited to medical and para-medical staff as well as university lecturers, Finance Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo said in the maiden budget of the government to Parliament on Friday.
According to him, such contracts would be given where it has been established that the services of such staff are required.
In view of this, all existing contracts for other Ministries, Departments and Agencies will not be renewed upon expiry.
The Minister recalled that the previous government declared its intention to stop the process whereby top public officials, upon reaching their retirement dates, are given contracts of one to three years, renewable to continue working in the same capacities.
"It now appears that this was never implemented," he said, adding, "there are still large numbers of such officials in the public service collecting pensions as well as salaries they currently earn."
The procedure, Mr Osafo-Maafo said, is not helpful as there is no future for the young talented individuals who aspire to reach those high positions in time.