Top Official Advocates for Staff-Centric Civil Service Reform

Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, Head of the Civil Service, has called for greater attention to staff wellbeing, teamwork and discipline as part of efforts to improve performance across the public sector. The call was made at the end of a cooking competition and health fair organised for staff of various ministries as part of activities marking Civil Service Week.

A Week of Teamwork and Health

The annual service-wide programme is coordinated by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and involves ministries and departments across the country. This year's celebration is on the theme: “The Resetting Agenda for Sustainable Development: The Civil Service’s Responsibilities.” Dr Aggrey-Darkoh said the activities provided an opportunity for staff to relax, interact and work together outside their usual office environment.

Dr Aggrey-Darkoh was visibly impressed with the team spirit on display. "From time to time we need to organise things like these. People are under pressure. Today I saw people dancing, networking, and working as a team. That spirit is what we need to drive the Service forward," he said. The activities, which included a policy fair and exhibition, cooking competition, health screening, clean-up exercise, sporting activities and an awards ceremony, aimed to promote healthy living, interaction and teamwork among public servants.

Time Management and Healthy Living

Dr Aggrey-Darkoh also stressed the importance of healthy living, noting that hygiene and food quality were key considerations in the cooking competition. He warned that poor food quality can have serious consequences for health. "You are as good as what you eat," he said. "If the food environment is not hygienic, you are literally taking poison. We must be conscious about what we consume both at work and at home," he added.

The Head of the Civil Service also emphasized the importance of effective time management. "Management of time is also an indicator of how developed a country is. Let's manage our time very well," he stated. He urged staff to apply the same spirit of discipline, teamwork and effective time management to their daily responsibilities.

A Call to Action

Dr Aggrey-Darkoh's call to action is part of efforts to support the government's reset agenda and build a public service that is more productive, resilient and enterprising. He urged staff to work together to achieve the targets set by the government. "It should not be said that when we were in charge, we did not deliver. We need everyone on board to achieve the targets we have set for ourselves," he said.

The activities for the week-long celebration were a resounding success, with staff from various ministries and departments coming together to promote teamwork, healthy living and discipline. The cooking competition, which was a highlight of the event, saw Team Two, comprising the Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, emerge winners with Tuo Zaafi and Ayoyo soup.

As the Civil Service Week comes to a close, Dr Aggrey-Darkoh's call to action remains a pressing issue. The public sector must prioritize staff wellbeing, teamwork and discipline if it is to improve performance and deliver on the government's reset agenda. Only time will tell if Dr Aggrey-Darkoh's words of wisdom will be heeded and if the public sector will be transformed into a more productive, resilient and enterprising institution.

Source: JOY