Regional News of Wednesday, 9 August 2006

Source: GNA

Public Sector Reform Ministry presents computers 33 organizations

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - The Ministry of Public Sector Reform (MPSR) has initiated a support service process to facilitate efficient service delivery in the public sector.

In this direction, it has presented 450 computers and accessories for onward distribution to selected public sector agencies under a programme to make the work of these agencies and educational institutions less cumbersome and responsive to the needs of clients. The Sector Minister, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom told journalists after the presentation that the 13 Client Service Units at the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would receive five computers each. The beneficiary institutions include 25 MDAs that have set up or are operating client service units. These include the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Ministry of Trade, Industry and PSI; Information Services Department; Internal Revenue Service; VAT Service, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; Customs, Excise and Preventive Service; Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and a number of secondary schools, regional youth councils and the Ho Polytechnic. The British Government through the British Department for International Development (DFID) provided funds for the purchase of the computers.

Dr Nduom said the presentation was aimed at assisting public sector agencies to increase their capacity to deliver improved, transparent and efficient service to the public.

He said a key challenge faced by the public sector was the limited customer care, which had led to the perception that the public service was not productive and lacked commitment to deliver the quality service expected.

"This gesture is one of the many programmes lined up by the Ministry as part of its public sector initiative. It is also to help to improve the physical conditions under which public servants work," he said.