Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - The Chief Executive of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Mr Charles Darku, has pledged the management's commitment to developing the company's human capital base to enhance professional standards.

There are also plans to improve the overall compensation package, to motivate staff, especially those in the lower echelons. Speaking at the second long service awards ceremony, Mr Darku said management was working on a major training package for all staff and reviewing existing training and development activities in order to scale them up to meet current challenges. The bi-annual ceremony was instituted to recognize staff for their long years of service, commitment and dedication to GRIDCo/VRA. A total of 39 staff members received long service awards. Out of this number, nine have served for 30 years, five, 25 years, 19, 15 years and six others serving ten years in both the Volta River Authority and GRIDCo.

Mr Darku lauded the contributions and achievements of the recipients in their individual careers. "These milestones do not come easy and we should all be proud of what we have achieved. I also want to thank you all for your contributions, your sustained loyalty and for being with us through both the good times and the more challenging times," he said. Mr Darku said it was gratifying that the recipients did not chase short term gains, such as instant promotions, big salaries and exquisite fringe benefits, but made extra efforts to consolidate their experiences, grow a body of knowledge, contribute to growth and profitability and become a valuable asset to the life of the organization. "We see you all as very valuable assets of the company. We want you to feel motivated to continue staying with us, and be driven with the passion and dedication to work to enable GRIDCo to meet its mandate," he said. Mr Darku urged the workers to help develop the transmission service, to ensure that the system was stable, secure, reliable and running, to exceed the expectations of customers and stakeholders. "We have to do this in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This kind of attitude is best translated into hard-work and sacrifice with the expectation that tomorrow will be better for the company's finances and for all of us.

He asked the staff to let the long service reflect in their work and to serve as an example to subordinates and the newly recruited. Mr Darku stressed the need for strong work ethics, to ensure that any project or task was completed on time, through self-sacrifice, providing good service, using good ideas and initiative, and taking responsibility for actions.

He advised those, who were due for retirement, to put the skills they had acquired at the disposal of their communities by assisting them to promote community development, through active personal participation. "The skills you have acquired and the experience you have gained during these years should stand you in good stead, in your interactions with your community members," Mr Daku added. 11 Dec. 10