The Public Services Commission (PSC) in collaboration with Australian Public Services Commission, on Monday opened a two-week public sector capacity building training for 46 Ghanaian officials in Accra.

The programme dubbed: “Building a Better Workforce”, being funded by the Australian Government is expected to enhance participants’ human resources management skills, in line with the Government’s new approach to Public Sector Reform Strategy.

Mrs Bridget Jubilee Katsriku, Chairperson of the PSC, said after careful consultation, the Commission identified best practices in the Australian public service and sought assistance to improve upon that of Ghana.

She explained that selected personnel from the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Health, Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Tourism were attending the training, which would enable them acquire more knowledge as leaders, and in turn lead other colleagues into more productive lives.

Mr. William Billy Williams, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana said the programme followed his country’s Public Service Commission’s mission to Ghana last year and a study visit to Australia in March this year by Ghanaian officials.

He said “I am delighted that Australia is supporting the professional skills development of Ghanaian officials through these opportunities.”

Mr. Williams said Australia was committed to strengthening Ghana’s public sector governance because quality public sector was crucial to effective policies formulation, resource allocation and service delivery.

Mr. Williams said support for the programme was part of Australia’s commitment to broadening and deepening engagement with Ghana across a spectrum of issues, including enhanced trade and commercial investment, strengthened diplomatic links and increased development assistance.

He announced that Ghana had been given 85 Australia awards in agriculture, mining, governance, health, education and public policy for 2012 and 1,000 Australian Government scholarships would be awarded annually across Africa by 2013.

Mr. Ben C. Eghan, Secretary to Cabinet, said the project was as a result of government's efforts to get higher productivity from the public service sector which took a lot of salaries under the Single Spine Salary Structure without the correspondence productivity.**