APPOINTMENTS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE NATION (PAGE 13, JULY 28, 2010)

PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills has reminded chief executives, chief directors and chairmen of governing boards and councils of their appointments as opportunities for service to the nation.
Professor Mills said Ghanaians expected that their actions and decisions would be guided by that maxim and that the common good of the country would reign supreme.
In a statement read on his behalf by Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah, Presidential Advisor, at the Fourth Conference of the Public Service Chief Executives, Chief Directors and Chairmen of Governing Boards and Councils at Elimina, President Mills asked them to work as a team, pay attention to the processes, policies, customs and laws laid down and designed for the proper functioning of their organisations.
He said it should not be difficult to build consensus at all times.
The President reminded them to use the platform to understand their roles and responsibilities between the governing boards and the chief executives and management.
President Mills asked them not to depart from laid down principles and practices that would create crisis between boards or councils and their chief executives.
He tasked them to update their strategic and corporate plan, embark on robust internal audit reporting system with strengthened internal control mechanisms, effective scheme of service and complying with citizen/service charters which specify the services being provided and effective performance management reporting system.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Professor Kofi Awoonor, who chaired the function, tasked them not to shy away from discussing the difficulties they faced in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Professor Awonor also reminded them of the need for the protection of trust, national interest, discipline, integrity, among others.
Earlier in his welcoming address, Professor S. N. Woode, Chairman of the Public Services Commission, admonished participants to take advantage of the conference to break the cycle of bureaucracy and to see how they relate to each other for the better Ghana agenda.