Dr Nii Moi Thompson, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has made strong reservations about public office workers watching soft porn during productive hours of the day instead of focusing on primary responsibilities.

Speaking to a wide range of issues bothering on productivity at the workplace in an interview on Channel One TV, on March 5, 2025, he outrightly condemned the display of television sets at government offices.

“I go to places and I walk through the corridor straight to the minister’s office and no one asks me a question, because they are watching a soap opera… it’s not just soap opera but soft porn; given that these telenovelas show people going about half naked and it’s at around 10 am in the morning,” he decried.

He described the presence of television sets in government offices as the ultimate symbol of an unserious country.

“In fact, for me the presence of television sets in government offices is the ultimate symbol of a country that is simply not serious,” he added.

He cited this trend as a major distraction to the workflow process and demanded action be taken to remove them from government offices.

He also indicated that the use of personal phones, particularly by front line workers, should be reviewed since most people engage in social media activities instead of focusing on their primary duties.

“Frontline service delivery staff in the government sector should not be on phone during work hours. In fact, they should turn it off as soon as they check in. There should be a number they can be reached in the office in case of an emergency. So, during working hours, there should be zero tolerance for doing things other than what they’re been paid to do,” he said.

VPO/AE