Local Government Service Prioritizes Staff Welfare and Discipline

By Kamal Ahmed, GNA Somanya (E/R), Jan. 18, GNA - Issues of staff welfare, discipline, and capacity building dominated discussions when the Head of Local Government Service (LGS), Professor Lord Mensah, paid a working visit to the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly (YKMA). The visit formed part of efforts by the Local Government Service to assess working conditions at the municipal level and strengthen productivity and accountability within the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies. Addressing management and staff, Prof. MMensah underscored the need for discipline, punctuality, and strict adherence to administrative procedures, warning that negative work attitudes continue to undermine effective service delivery. “Indiscipline, absenteeism, lateness to work, insubordination, and bypassing the established channels of reportage are practices that retard the growth of the Local Government Service,” he cautioned. He urged heads of departments to take responsibility for enforcing accountability, stressing that “discipline must start from leadership and cascade down to every officer within the Assembly.” He outlined the four strategic pillars guiding the operations of the Local Government Service as the data-driven decision-making in human resource management, professionalizing the Service to build a disciplined and competent workforce, investing in Public Private Partnerships, and promoting fiscal decentralization When these guidelines are followed and well applied, they will enhance efficiency, generate revenue, and enable Assemblies to attain financial autonomy and reliable cash flows, he stated. Prof. Mensah also advocated the establishment of a crèche at the Assembly to support nursing mothers, noting that such interventions could significantly improve staff productivity and retention. “Supporting nursing mothers at the workplace is not a luxury; it is a productivity measure,” he added. The Municipal Chief Executive of Yilo Krobo, Mr. Francis Addo Akumatey, highlighted persistent challenges affecting staff welfare and service delivery in the municipality. He cited uneven staff distribution across departments, acute shortages in the Works, Agriculture, Roads, and Finance Departments, and inadequate office accommodation for heads of departments. “Our staff strength is unevenly distributed, leaving critical departments overstretched while others are overstaffed,” the MCE noted. He raised concerns about rising rental costs in the municipality, which, according to him, have compelled some staff to commute from outside the municipality. “The high cost of accommodation is affecting punctuality and productivity,” he said, adding that limited opportunities for staff capacity building and skills development remained a major setback to effective local governance. Despite these challenges, Mr. Akumatey outlined notable achievements recorded by the Assembly, including the introduction of an electronic billing and payment system to improve revenue mobilization and transparency, the operationalization of the Akutunya lorry park to boost Internally generated Funds, and the installation of an attendance monitoring system to curb lateness and absenteeism. He also mentioned the acquisition of a final disposal site at Klo-Agogo and the completion of several CHIPS compounds to improve healthcare delivery in the municipality. The Deputy Director of the Assembly, Mr. John Mensin Mframah, expressed appreciation to Prof. Lord Mensah and his management team, saying that ” the advice and guidance given them will strengthen discipline and improve performance at the Assembly.” GNA Edited by E.B. Addae/ Kenneth Odeng Adade