Kumasi, June 7, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of State in-charge of Public Sector Reform, has urged civil servants to be in the forefront of the national debate on wages and productivity. He said there was the need for them to let their voices to be heard and to make the public aware about the essential services that they render to the nation.

Dr Nduom said this when he interacted with civil servants from Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Eastern regions in Kumasi on Tuesday. The interaction was aimed at looking at the problems facing the service and to device ways to improve the conditions to increase productivity.

The Minister said there was the need for them to get the public to recognise efforts they made to deliver better service, reduce waste in the system and remove names that did not exist from payrolls. He told them that the government had initiated work to design a comprehensive training and education for all levels within the service, adding that this would include training in Information Technology (IT). "It is my hope that we will look for resources to improve the facilities at the Government Secretarial School and the Civil Service Training Centres", he said. Mr Benjamin Asonaba-Dapaah, Mem ber of the Council of State, said the Civil Service and government were inseparable in nation building and urged civil servants to be committed and dedicated to their work to increase productivity.

The Council of State Member expressed his gratitude about the interaction and expressed the hope that civil servants would work together at all levels.