The World Bank has approved a 35 million-dollar International Development Association (IDA) credit for Ghana’s Public Sector Reforms.
The World Bank assistance is meant to improve efficiency and accountability in the delivery of public services for 16 selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s)
Chief Executive of Public Sector Reforms, Thomas Kusi Boafo, revealed this at a mini-sensitization launch in Kumasi of the National Public Sector Reform Strategy.
Over 100 participants from Ashanti and Bono Ahafo Regions attended the ceremony.
The theme for the event was ‘Delivering for Citizens and the Private Sector’, aimed at ensuring an efficient, effective and responsive public sector in Ghana.
Targeted areas
The 16 targeted entities comprise five front-line service delivery agencies.
They are the Passport Office, Ghana Immigration Service, Births and Deaths Registry, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), their respective parent ministries and key entities that provide oversight, guidance and services to these entities.
Implementation will start in January 2019, under the Public Sector Reforms for Results Projects.
Mr Kusi Boafo said the reforms will prioritize citizens’ needs and leverage on technology in service delivery to reduce corruption.
“People are complaining a lot of about acquisition of passports, driving licenses and births and deaths certificates, so we have a lot of problems. We are going to make sure that we mainstream them so that the human element and touch is seriously reduced because that is what breeds corruption.
“The digitization will shorten processes, and facilitate the work of the private sector, reduce corruption and so they will get money to expand,” he said.
The project is results-oriented and places special emphasis on strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as the first step towards greater integration of M&E in the policy-making process.
The regional launch of the strategy document was a prelude to a country-wide sensitization exercise before the end of the year.
The goal of the strategy is enhanced public service delivery to citizens and the private sector, with three sub-goals, are as follows:
– Cultivating a new direction of purpose in the public sector;
– Building the capacity of personnel, who deliver public services and;
– Strengthening the public service delivery processes.
Mr. Kusi Boafo says effective implementation of the reforms will strengthen both the private and public sector.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
