Hohoe, June 15, GNA - Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the Minister of Public Sector Reform, has said the ministry had placed premium on public sector pay and pension reforms.

This has culminated in the establishment of the new Comprehensive Salary Structure to include progressive monetisation of non-cash benefits across board.

Appropriate housing and long-term savings schemes, improved pensions and processing of pensions, he said, would support this. Dr Nduom was interacting with staff and heads of decentralized ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on the Public Sector Reform with emphasis on pay reform at Hohoe.

He said the reforms sought to reduce the role of the state in the production chain, in addition to service delivery and to encourage the deregulation of public enterprises.

Dr Nduom said pay disparities, distortions and wrongful placements were gradually being corrected in the civil service. He said under the reform, all directors would be given the authority to dismiss members of staff who conceal and delay documents to be processed in demand for little tips and other favours.

The minister said these initiatives needed to be sustained over a long period to ensure that a new culture of timeliness and quality service delivery became the norms in the MDAs.

Dr Nduom said it was worthwhile to support the programme to strengthen the country's ability to become a middle-income country with a per capita income of 1,000 dollars.

Mr Smart Chigabatia, the Executive Secretary of the Civil Servants Association (CSA), blamed the government for succumbing to labour agitations and threats, irrespective of the establishment of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, to deal with salary re-structuring and pay related complaints.

He called on public servants still waiting on the fringes to register to join the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) since 2.5 percent of their Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contribution was continuously been deducted.

Mr Chigabatia said under the varied pension schemes, SSNIT would maintain its status quo but would not be able to pay gratuity, while five percent of a contributor's contribution is invested in a private financial institution as provident fund and mortgage schemes to enable workers own houses.

Nana Rex Owusu-Ansah, the acting Head of Local Government Service, said the service was the newest Public Service established by an ACT of Parliament (ACT 656) as the bureaucratic wing of decentralization tasked to integrate and secure an effective local government management. Mr John Peter Amewu, Hohoe District Chief Executive urged all stakeholders to co-operate and support the reforms.