psc newsletter2 final psc newsletter.pdf · cont. from page 1 introduction the public services...
TRANSCRIPT
. 2015 CEOs Confab
. Brief on PSC . HR Network Executives
into Office inducted . Electronic Communication Tribunal inaugurated
resident John Dramani
Mahama has urged Heads of PPublic Service organisations
and Chairpersons of Boards and
Councils to take responsibility in
the fight against corruption in the
Public Service.
in this edition
th President Mahama was opening the 8Conference of Public Service Chief Directors, Chief Executives and Chairpersons of Governing Boards and Councils at Koforidua in the Eastern Region.
The fight against corruption was not the sole responsibility of the Executive, but a shared one in which public service office holders should be mindful of, he noted.
The President was addressing over 140 par t i c ipan ts who a t tended the Conference, which was on the theme: “Leading and Managing the Dynamics of Change through the Professionalization of the Public Services”.
First Edition June 2015
...Urges leadership of Public Services to fight corruption ... Continued stay in office to be based on satisfactory work performance
PRESIDENT MAHAMA OPENS 2015 CEOs CONFERENCE
...building a productive public service
PSC NEWSA Newsletter of the Public Services Commission
Cont. on page 7
The Annual Conference was meant to be a platform for the President to meet, interact and share his vision and concerns of his administration with Chief Executives and Chairpersons of Governing Boards and Councils.
The meeting was also intended to afford
the leadership of the Public Service, the
opportunity, to deliberate on emerging
issues on governance and public
administ rat ion wi th a v iew to
exchanging ideas and making
recommendations that would lead to
improvement in service delivery.
he Public Services Commission, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Finance and the Controller Tand Accountant-General’s Department will
conduct a Human Resource (HR) Audit of the Public
Service as part of the on-going sub-project on Human
Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)
under the GIFMIS project.
As part of the preparatory work to roll out the exercise,
the Commission met Consultants of the Project to
deliberate on issues pertaining to the programme.
Addressing the Consultants, the Chairman of the PSC,
Mrs. Bridget Katsriku underlined the importance of the
HR Audit to the PSC, the public service and the entire
nation, describing it as “very critical” for a sustainable
human resource planning regime.
She recalled recent media reports about the public
service, which centered on the huge public service
wage bills, payroll anomalies and “ghost names” among
others things, and said “this is one bold initiative that we
want to take to address those issues”.
Mrs. Katsriku said the HR Audit is not a standalone
exercise, but linked with the HRMIS project that the
Commission is carrying out, and will provide other
related HR information that will guide proper HR
planning in the Public Service.
The purpose of the Human Resource Audit, is aimed at
achieving the following:
Ÿ to obtain a more accurate and scientific data on the
Human Resource in the Public Service for decision
making and planning purposes;
Ÿ to determine the optimum number of positions and the
right human resource establishment levels/ceilings for
each MDA and MMDA in order to facilitate effective
position management around entry, progression and exit
in the public service; and
Ÿ to identify excess labour force for development to
other relevant organisations in deficit.
To facilitate speedy execution of the assignment, the
country has been zoned as follows:
Zone 1 - Upper East and Northern,
Zone 2 - Brong-Ahafo and Upper West
Zone 3 - Volta and Greater Accra
Zone 4 - Western and Central
Zone 5 - Ashanti Region
Zone 6 - Eastern Region
The Commission, therefore, requests all MMDAs to co-
operate and give maximum support to the consultants for
the successful conduct of the exercise.
Human Resource Audit Commences in June 2015 ...as PSC meets HR Audit Consultants
Designed and Printed by Information Services Department
Cont. from page 1
INTRODUCTION
The Public Services Commission (PSC) is an independent
constitutional body established under Article 195 of the
1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. The PSC's
powers, functions and privileges in the discharge of its
mandate were further consolidated by the Public Services
Commission Act 1994, (Act 482).
MANDATEArticle 194 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states that “there
shall be a Public Services Commission which shall perform
such functions as assigned to it by this Constitution or by
any other law. In Article 196, it is stated that, “The Public
Services Commission shall have such powers and exercise
such supervisory, regulatory and consultative functions as
Parliament shall, by law, prescribe, including as may be
applicable, the supervision and regulation of entrance and
promotion examinations, recruitment, appointment into or
promotions within the Public Services and the
establishment of guidelines on the terms and conditions of
employment in the public services”.
The Commission is further empowered in Sections 10-13 of
PSC Act 482 to request any public officer, Corporation or
Board to supply relevant information or data on its work
which shall be binding on the person or organisation so
requested. ‘’The Act also authorises officers of the PSC to
enter any premises of a Ministry, Department, and office of a
Regional Co-ordinating Council, office of a District
Assembly, or any public office to inspect and make copies of
any records or documents kept there.’’
A public officer who, therefore, without reasonable excuse,
fails to appear before the Commission when notified do so,
or who fails to comply with any request lawfully and properly
made by or on behalf of the Commission, or who obstructs
the Commission or any member or officer of the
Commission in the performance of his functions under this
section, shall be guilty of misconduct.
The Act provides for the security, autonomy and
confidentiality of PSC’s activities that interacts “any report,
statement or record of any meeting, enquiry or proceedings
which the Commission may make in the exercise of its
functions, or any member or officer of the Commission may
make in the performance of his duties, shall be privileged in
that its production may not be compelled in any legal
proceedings, unless the Supreme Court certifies that the
production is in the public interest.’’
Functions Section 4 of Act 482, 1994 stipulates the functions of the Commission. These are:
v to advise Government on the criteria forappointment to public offices as well as persons to hold or act in public offices;
The government in this rationalisation
exercise had already posted 1300
teachers to underserve areas in both
rural and urban areas.
President Mahama said that the
sustainability of the public sector
depends on the individual's quality and
efficient service delivery. He urged all
public servants to break the false notion
that the public service belongs to the
government and regard every
government institution as their property.
The Chairman of the Public Services
Commission (PSC), Mrs. Bridget
Katsriku, in her welcome address, said
that the Service required leaders who
would employ innovative management
tools to continuously promote and
foster change for it to become more
effective and efficient.
“The complexities for managing change
require managing people who are good
at what they do in an ethical, competent
and professional manner”, she added.
Mrs. Katsriku observed that increased
pressure on the government to deliver
quality services to citizens required the
infusion of professionalism as a
prerequisite for public servants for them
to deliver quality service. She added
that “being professional is being
excellent at one's job and this should
lead to satisfying one's clients”.
She stated that mediocrity, that results
from incompetent and unethical
behaviour often breeds unprofessional
conduct, corruption and citizen's
d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n , c o n f l i c t a n d
underdevelopment, adding that
“…mediocrity and unprofessionalism in
public service has high correlation with
our poor public service delivery today”.
The Chairman of PSC called on the
leadership of the various public service
organisations to wake up to their
REACHING OUT TO YOU!he Public Services Commission continues to be guided by the provisions of Article 196 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of TGhana. These empower the Commission to excise supervisory,
regulatory, advisory and consultative functions as the Central Management Agency (CMA) responsible for providing strategic guidance for human resource management in the Public Services of Ghana.
Under the above captioned Constitutional provision, the Commission is required, among others, to advise Government on the criteria for appointments to public offices as well as persons to hold or act in public offices. The Commission is also to oversee the human resource development activities of public service organizations to ensure career planning and career development; review the organization structure and manpower requirements of public service organizations; and, advise Government on such manpower rationalization as may be necessary for maximum utilization of the human resource in the public service.
Conscious of the myriad of Human Resource Management (HRM) challenges, the Commission has embarked on a number of HRM reform initiatives, which when effectively implemented would improve HRM practices and the overall functioning of the Public Services of Ghana.
The HR Reforms include the following: · institutionalization of an effective Performance Management systems which will link rewards and sanctions to performance; · establishment of a Human Resource management Information Systems (HRMIS) which will help, among others, to efficiently manage the payroll, control irregular recruitment, and reduce the payment of unearned salaries to “ghost names” on the payroll; · development and implementation of a Human Resource Management Policy Framework and Manual to clarify roles, responsibilities , accountabilities, structures and standards; · manpower audit of public service organizations/agencies for the optimum utilization and rationalization of human resources in public service organizations for sustainable service delivery; and, · development of the capacity of HRM professionals to adequately manage the human capital of the Public Services.Ÿ development of Corporate Governance Manual to guide the practice of good governance in MDAs
The Commission wishes to thank all stakeholders including the Office of the President, Cabinet, Parliament, Developing Partners, Central Management Agencies and all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the successful design and implementation of these reforms. It is the hope of the Commission, that as it moves further into the implementation stages of the reforms, all stakeholders would continue to support the efforts of the Commission towards building a strong and results-oriented public service delivering quality services to the citizenry.This maiden and subsequent issues of the Public Services Commission's Newsletter, shall provide information, updates and progress being made in the implementation of the reform initiatives, including highlights on major events and programmes of the Commission.
The President expressed dissatisfaction about embarrassing manner some Chief Directors were hauled yearly to face the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to answer queries on mismanagement and abuse of public funds at their various Agencies.
“I normally feel very sorry for you when you appear and you are being quizzed …and so one would think that after leaving that uncomfortable situation when you go back you will take control and make sure you are not summoned back”, the President said.
He therefore directed Chief Executives to take effective action against all public servants mentioned in the Auditor-General's Report, adding “....that is what you are required to do".
Touching on professionalism, President Mahama expressed concern about the way some public servants at positions of trust demanded inducements from clients before providing services they are paid to undertake.
The President cited a complaint he
received from one of the country's entry
points where a foreign national, despite
the complimentary reports he had about
Ghana prior to his
On speculations that the government
would retrench workers in the public
service as part of the IMF conditions, His
Excellency explained that the government
was rather in the process of staff
rationalisation, where personnel would be
posted to places where their services are
required.
visit, had to part away
with money in exchange of the service he
required. This the President described as
“unethical and selfish”.
On employment, the President dispelled
rumours that the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) bailout programme had
attached conditionalities that would
restrain the government from employing
workers into the public sector. The
government, the President said, would
continue to recruit the required number of
qualified workers needed to enhance
service delivery.
responsibilities and change the way they
lead.
She expressed displeasure about lack
of commitment on the part of Chief
Executives to ensure that the various
mandates of their agencies were
achieved in an efficient and effective
way.
She noted that many of the Governing
Boards and Councils had not signed
performance contracts with their Chief
Executives and, therefore, could not
hold them accountable for poor work
performance.
The Commission, she said, would continue its efforts to ensure that the situation is addressed to enable the public depend on the public service for better service delivery.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. A n tw i - B o a s i a k o S e k y e r e s a i d professionalism and work ethics in public service had attracted little a t tent ion in recent t imes and emphasized the need for public servants to keep pace with time.
He noted that the public sector was the
surest way of extending opportunities to
all citizens, and underlined the need for
change in work attitudes and ethics of
Public Servants.
The Conference of Public Service Chief
Directors, Chief Executives and
Chairpersons of Governing Boards and
Councils, has over the years, created
opportunities for networking amongst
participants and a platform to share
information or showcase programmes of
agencies that leaders in the public
service needed to be aware of.
PSC News 7PSC News 2
EDITORIALBRIEF ON THE PUBLIC SERVICES
COMMISSION
PSC News 7
“...if you make the choice to serve the public,
Public Service, then serve the public,
not yourself”
- Jack Abramoff
Cont. on page 6
PRESIDENT MAHAMA OPENS 2015 CEOs CONFERENCE
She further stated, that the Human Resource
Management Practitioners Network was
common feature in the developed countries
and wi th these networks providing
professional inputs and advice to direct and
influence policy changes in the area of human
resource management.
The Networks, she noted, also serve as a
veritable ground for which Human Resource
practitioners could improve their skills and
competencies to address the complexities and
challenges involved in managing employees.
Thus, the establishment of this network in
Ghana should be seen as huge step towards
professionalizing the human resource
management functions and managing people
in an effective and efficient manner in the
public service of Ghana.
The Interim Executive Committee has its
Chairman, Mr. Andy Okrah, Director of Human
Resource Management, Ghana Forestry
Commission.
The other Members include Ms. Ohenewa
Aboagye, Director of Administration, Ghana
Standard Authority; Mrs. Yvonne Quansah,
Head of Human Resource Management,
Ghana Public Procurement Authority; Mr.
Prince Moses A. Pecku, Human Resource
Manager, Ghana Water Company; Ms.
Patricia A Agyepong, Director, Office of the
Head of Civil Service; Ms. Charlotte Morgan-
Asiedu, Human Resource Director, Ministry of
Communication, Mr. Isaac Akrofi, Assistant
Director, PSC. The Secretariat for the Network
is located at the Public Services Commission
and has its Coordinator, Ms. Pearl Offeibea
Twum, Assistant Director PSC.
Mrs. Bridget Katsriku entreated the Interim
Executive Committee to take this responsibility
seriously and urged it to design strategies that
would make the Network vibrant, active and a
responsible professional grouping.
The Chairman of the Interim Executive
Committee, Mr. Okrah, on behalf of the other
members thanked the Public Services
Commission for the confidence reposed in
them and that they would collectively, work to
build a strong, vibrant and and professional
network of human resource management
practitioners.
Administration (GIMPA) is the Registrar. Mrs. Fuseina I. Yakubu is the Secretary in the Registry of the Tribunal.
Inaugurating the Tribunal, Mrs. Katsriku expressed her gratitude to the Chairman, Members and the Registrar for accepting the call to be part of the Tribunal, which she described as an “important good governance mechanism”.On behalf of the members, the Chairman of the Tribunal expressed his gratitude to the Commission for the confidence reposed in them, and assured the Commission that they will dispense justice fairly.
Justice Date-Bah, disclosed that the Tribunal shall commence work as soon as the rules of Procedure have been approved by a Panel of the Tribunal, specifically, convened for the purpose and promulgated as a Legislative Instrument by the Board.
The Public Services Commission is a statutory body mandated by Section 89 of the Electronic Communication Act to appoint the Chairman, Members, a Registrar and other staff necessary for the operation of the Tribunal.
seven-member Interim Executive
Committee to steer the affairs of the AHuman Resource Management
Practitioners Network was inaugurated by
Mrs. Bridget Katsriku, Chairman of the Public thServices Commission (PSC) on the 5 of
February, 2015. The venue for the short but yet
impressive ceremony was held in the
Conference Room of the Public Services
Commission.
In a brief background to this initiative, Mrs.
Bridget Katsriku said that the idea of
es tab l i sh ing the Human Resource
Management Practitioners' Network was the
outcome of the collaborative effort between
the Australian Public Services Commission
and the Ghana Public Services Commission.
The Network is to provide a platform for
Human Resource managers and practitioners
in the public services to engage one another in
a healthy cross-fertilization and sharing of
ideas, adopting innovative practices and
conventions including outcomes of research
findings to improve on their duties and
functions at their work places in the various
Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs).
PSC Inaugurates Electronic Communication Tribunal
PSC News 6 PSC News 7PSC News 3
HR NETWORK EXECUTIVES INDUCTED INTO OFFICE
he Chairman of the Public S e r v i c e s C o m m i s s i o n T(PSC), Mrs. Bridget Katsriku
has inaugurated the Electronic Communication Tribunal in Accra.
This is in accordance with the provisions of Section 88 to 93 of the Electronic Communication Act, 2008 (Act 775) to consider appeals against decisions or orders made by the National Communication Authority (NCA).
The three-man Tribunal is chaired by Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, a retired Supreme Court Judge, and has Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor, a lecturer at University of Cape Coast (UCC), Mr. Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, Executive Director of Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as members.
Mr. Tawia Akyea, Principal Lecturer a t t he Ghana I ns t i t u t e o f M a n a g e m e n t a n d P u b l i c
v. t o p r o m o t e e f f i c i e n c y , accountability and integrity in the Public Services;
v to prescribe appropriate systems and procedures for the management of personnel records within the Public Services;
v. to improve recruitment policies and techniques by introducing modern methods of judging the suitability of officers;
v. to conduct examinations and
interview for appointments to posts,
and for promotions in the Public
Services or within Public Corporations
to ensure uniformity of standards of
selection and qualification;
v to provide a standard framework
for evaluating and classifying jobs in the
Public Services;
v to review the organisation,
structure and manpower requirements
of agencies and bodies in the Public
Services and advise Government on
such manpower rationalisation as may
be necessary for maximum utilisation
of human resources in the Public
Services;
v to oversee the human resource
development activities of Public
Services organisations to ensure
career p lann ing and career
development in the Public Services;
v to conduct, in collaboration with training institutions, personnel research into human resources management in the Public Services in order to improve personnel practices and their utilisation in the Public Services; and
v to perform any other duties assigned to it under the constitution or any other enactment.
v formulate policy guidelines on appointments, promotions, and discipline for all the public service environments
v formulate policy guidelines for benefits and conditions of service for all the public service environment
v develop management / administrative systems for the public service.
Cont. from page 2 Enjoying your time in public service,
it may well be one of the most interesting
and challenging time of your life
- Donald Rumsfeld (American politician)
BRIEF ON PSC
2015 CEOs Conference in pictures The 2015 Conference of Public Service Chief Directors, Chief Executives and Chairpersons of Governing Boards/Council was held at the Capital View Hotel in Koforidua in
Eastern Region from 23rd to 26th April, 2015. H.E. John Dramani Maham, President of the Republic of Ghana performed the opening ceremony. Here are highlights of
activities that took place during the three-day conference.
PSC News 4 PSC News 7PSC News 5