Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 19 Feb.'99

Dr Robert Dodoo, Head of Civil Service today said performance agreements would ensure the attainment of national developmental objectives. He said people should not perceive the introduction of the agreements as a threat because these are intended to help the Civil Service to provide effective, timely and quality services. Dr Dodoo said these at the signing ceremony of Performance Agreements in Kumasi between the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Regional Co-ordinating Director, and District Chief Executives and District Co-ordinating Directors of the Region. The Agreements are part of the on-going capacity building initiative programme to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Civil Service Dr Dodoo stressed the need for objectivity in evaluating performance in the Service, especially at the high levels of the bureaucracy, where performance assessment was until recently absent. He explained that under the agreement, if a regional or district co-ordinating director fails to produce 70 percent of the deliverables without adequate explanation, he or she would be counselled, cautioned, suspended, retired or dismissed, depending on the gravity of the shortcomings. He stated that in view of the importance of the agreements, they may in future be extended below Director level, so that the accountability cycle will be complete. Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, said that the agreements have replaced the era in which some DCE's and DCD's took ad hoc measures in the discharge of their work. He advised DCE's and DCD's to approach their work with urgency and professionalism for targets to be achieved.