Kumasi, Jan.29, GNA - The Staff of Information Services Department (ISD) have been urged to eschew laziness, absenteeism, lateness to work and other negative tendencies and work harder to improve upon the image of the Department.

They should also work as a team and co-operate with other decentralised departments to enable the staff achieve their set goals. Mr Lawrence Asamoah, Ashanti Regional Director of the ISD was speaking at an end-of-year get-together organised by the department for its staff in Kumasi on Friday.

The occasion was also used as a send-off in honour of Mr. Emmanuel Hayford Appeaning, former Ashanti Regional Director of the ISD, who is on transfer to Koforidua after serving 12 years in the Ashanti Region.

He noted, "we should not forget that the mission of the Ministry, which among other things, mandate us to inform and disseminate government policies and programmes to all and sundry and feed the government with public reaction reports".

Mr Asamoah asked the staff to use the occasion and adopt effective strategies to help improve the performances of the Ministry this year. He thanked his predecessor Mr Appeaning for the good work done and wished him well in his new station.

Mr Appeaning, on his part extended gratitude to the staff of the department, the various decentralised departments and the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) for their maximum co-operation and their support throughout his stay in the region.

He said the current democratic dispensation demanded a lot of hard work from the staff of the department to help meet the challenges ahead the.

Mr. Appeaning appealed to the staff to give his successor the same co-operation to enable him discharge his duties more effectively and efficiently.

He was presented with prizes by the staff of the department and other well-wishers.

Nana Agyei Berko, a Kumasi-based businessman who chaired the function, advised the staff of the department to work in unity and co-operation to enable the Ministry grow from strength to strength.