Accra, July 30, GNA - Mr. Joe Issachar, Head of Civil Service, on Monday said civil servants' close association with politics and politicians had not enhanced the productivity level of the service. He said some of them sought refuge in politicians especially when they were transferred to other regions.

Speaking at the 23rd National Executive Council meeting of the Civil Servants' Association (CSA) in Accra, Mr. Issachar said some civil servants needed to change their bad habits for government to be more committed to issues concerning the Service.

"If such human-related issues are adequately addressed by ourselves and we transform this association and service into a better one, government will have no other alternative than to give us what is due us."

To foster these, Mr Issachar said, they were developing a twin approach to issues by employing young people to rejuvenate the productivity level of the service.

He said the Head of the Civil Service had collaborated with JICA in organizing training programmes for Directors, Heads of Departments and policy makers to improve leadership skills. The outgoing Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Mr. Boniface Abubakar Saddique said government was aware of the massive contribution and the role of civil servants in policy implementation and development of the country.

"The nation cannot achieve the goals for the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRSII) and those of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) without the invaluable assistance and contributions of civil servants," he added.

Mr. Saddique said government had not left out the CSA in its avowed aim of formulating, adopting and implementing a new comprehensive wage and salaries structure in the ongoing Public Service Reform Programme. He commended the leadership of the Association and gave the assurance that issues pertaining to CSA would be adequately addressed. Mr Robertson Akwei Allotey, President of the Association, called on the government to address the financial needs of civil servants in order to motivate them to work harder.

"The civil servant should not be put aside when it comes to salary increment .... but (be seen) as people working for government to achieve its aims and objectives," he reiterated. Mr. James Kow Amissah, Regional Chairman of CSA, said if government refused to pay the 10 per cent salary increase as negotiated because of a distortion, they would adopt "a more aggressive approach". The meeting was under the theme: "New Building through Financial Discipline: Consolidating CSA Structures for Enhanced Performance". 31 July 07