Koforidua, June 26, GNA - The new Information Services Department vans being used by District Information Officers are not receiving regular maintenance as expected.

While the vehicles were designed to go for maintenance after every 5,000 kilometres, some of the vehicles had made over 20,000 kilometres without maintenance because the District Information Officers are having problems in opening bank accounts to enable them receive funds from Accra for the regular maintenance of the vans.

Some of reporters of the Information Service Department also complained that the digital cameras that were sent to them were not accompanied by their chips hence the cameras could not function. These came to light when the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, met Municipal and District Chief executives, staff of the Information Service Department and media personnel in Koforidua.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng instructed the Directors of his Ministry who were with him to resolve the problem ed when they get back to Accra and ensure that all the District Information Officers receive their funding for regular maintenance of the vehicles. Mr Asamoah-Boateng said he had directed the Regional Information Officers to set up a monitoring scheme to select hard working staff for commendation.

He told the information officers that the ministry was reintroducing the operational allowances of 25 percent of their salaries that they used to enjoy to encourage them to work harder. Mr Asamoah-Boateng assured the staff of the ministry who had not been receiving their salaries that all the necessary documentation had been completed to ensure that they start receiving their salaries from the end of June.

He advised the staff of the Ministry not to politicize the information they give out and to remain neutral always.