Accra (Greater Accra) 29 July ?99

Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, on Wednesday said Ghana's investment drive must go hand in hand with openness and transparency in the civil service, "if we are to achieve our middle income target by year 2020".

Mr Mahama said the private sector must be aware of what goes on in the civil service to ensure the necessary confidence and trust for effective co-operation to realise the goals of the new investment and privatisation drive.

He made the call when he launched a number of service delivery standards brochures for 10 civil service agencies as well as a work code of ethics for the entire Civil Service.

The 10 organisations included Office of the Head of Civil Service, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Passport Office, Land Title Registry and Vehicle Examination and License Department.

The rest are Rent Control Department, Lands Commission, Town and Country Planning Department and Survey Department.

It was jointly funded by the British and Ghanaian governments under a partnership scheme.

The British government is assisting the Ghana Civil Service (GCS) to improve on its performance and service delivery.

The code is meant to combat negative working habits, cumbersome and time-consuming procedures in the service.

They are also meant to educate the public on what to expect from the GCS.

Mr Mahama noted that lack of transparency, withholding of vital information from the private sector and cumbersome procedures in the service, among other things, militate against the investment drive of the country.

He said transparency in the service is not only necessary for development, but is also "vital to our democratic process".

Mr Mahama urged civil servants to be wary of negative working habits such as lateness, absenteeism, lazing about during working hours, bribery and corruption as well as abuse of office and exploitation of ignorant customers.

"Put efficient and action oriented officers in charge of the implementation of the code and standards to ensure on-the-spot punitive measures against defaulting civil servants."

Dr Robert Dodoo, Head of the GSC, noted that the era of lapses and delays in the operations of the service would no longer be tolerated.

"Cumbersome and time-consuming procedures and lack of transparency are no longer acceptable in this information age characterised by speed and human rights awareness."

He, therefore, urged civil servants to re-orient themselves to the challenges of the new standards and ethics "if you want to secure your place in the service in the next millennium".