Sunyani Feb. 4, GNA - Mr John Boateng, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Ghana Telecom on Wednesday called on the staff of the company to change in attitude towards customers' demands because of the current competition in the industry.

"For a long time, we have displayed a lackadaisical attitude to our customers' demands because we were basking in the monopolistic environment.

"Now it is time for us to wake up from that slumber and realise that it is the customer who feeds our entire family", he said.

Mr Boateng was addressing the opening of a day's "Change Conference" in Sunyani, attended by top management personnel from the company's headquarters, the regional office and staff.

The conference was part of the nation-wide programme of the company to sensitise the staff of the company on the need for them to change their attitudes and outlook to propel the company to the height of the telecommunications industry in the country.

He noted that there had been several managements, programmes and activities undertaken by the company, "yet we are still saddled with the problems of the P&T days."

This is the time for us to change for the better if we want to move the company forward to become the leader in the telecommunications industry in the country, the regional director said.

Mr Boateng appealed to the company's cashiers to collect any money from customers, "because the company can purchase the latest equipment, pay our salaries and meet other commitments with these monies".

He urged the staff to resolve to work hard to satisfy and gain the full confidence of customers and cautioned them against taking kickbacks before rendering services.

Mr Ernst Thue, Programme Director, said the Change programme was aimed at establishing an improved communication system, giving information about important issues, updating the staff and improved two-way communication.

Video clips he showed indicated that customers of the company were not 100 per cent satisfied with its performance and the programme director emphasized the need for a change in all areas of operations to enable the company to become a better service provider.

The clips laid bare the unproductive and negative attitudes of staff towards customers, a trend that had made most customers to prefer other telecommunication service providers.

We are changing to fulfil our commitment to Ghanaians, regarding improved telecommunications, Mr Thue said and challenged the staff to face the challenges of competition in the industry.

He announced that since last year, the company was being given a face-lift to conform to the wind of change, including the renovation and rehabilitation of offices and the procurement of new equipment and 90 vehicles, new buses for staff and 10 new trucks.

The Programme Director added that the company had purchased 400 PCs for the IT department, constructed new canteens and conference rooms as well as two new regional head offices at Ho and Koforidua.