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Be committed to change negative perceptions- Newly recruited Local Gov’t Service Staff told
The newly recruited Local Government Service Staff in group picture with management of the service
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong has urged newly recruited local government service staff to work in the spirit of commitment to change the negative perceptions of society about the roles of assemblies in the country.
He said society has had such negative perceptions about the assembly mainly due to how some service staff performed their roles in the delivery of services to clients’ dissatisfaction.
“We are faced with the challenges of changing the negative perceptions of society about the roles of assemblies since we believe that most of us gathered here entered the public service out of a genuine desire to help make a difference,” he said.
Mr Acheampong whose speech was read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Chief Director of the Local Government Service, Mr John Donkor, at an orientation programme held in Koforidua for recently recruited Local Government Service Staff, urged them to be committed to the job and work as a team to attain the goals and objectives of the service to change the face of the service and better serve their clients.
394 personnel were taken through the orientation to enable them adjust to their new work environment and better understand and appreciate the Local Government Service and working procedures.
The Minister stated that in contemporary times, Local authorities face pressure from clients to improve upon service delivery “by being focused, transparent, accountable, effective, efficient, professional and responsive to the needs of society,”
For that reason, he stated the need for the local government staff to live up to the expectations of key stakeholders and called on the new ones to contribute to maintaining a good reputation for the service as they represented the new face of the public service.
The Regional Minister also called on the staff of the Local Government Service to consider the service in its national essence, commit fully and remain abreast with the mechanisms associated with their work to affect the realization of the vision and mandate of the service.
“I will urge all new recruits to imbibe technical knowledge to take on their roles effectively as technocrats’ bureaucrats in the various Municipal and District Assemblies in the region,” he said.
The Regional Head of the Department of Human Resource of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, Mr Cyril Dzinyanu Xatse commended the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service for augmenting the staff strength of the region and also thanked the 33 Municipal Assemblies in the region for their continuous support.
He urged the new officers to be diligent in the discharge of their duties while they take into consideration the tenets of the Public Service professionalism.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
