Minister interracts with employees

Daily Graphic, pg. 13. Fri. April 04/09

Story Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho

THE Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), Ms Akua Sena Dansua, has paid a working visit to the Department of Women and Children to interact with the staff to know their problems and challenges.
The minister said the 2009 budget of the ministry had made provisions for the construction of an office complex for the ministry to be completed within a two-year period to offer accommodation to all departments and implementing agencies under the ministry.
She said the ministry was finalising a scheme of service to re-outline the specific roles of the two departments, as well as help address concerns of its employees, and to streamline their activities to make them more effective.
At the Department of Children, the minister was received by its acting director, Mr Peter Eduful, who briefed her on some of the problems hindering the progress of the department.
According to him, the department which was poorly resourced financially, also lacked equipment such as computers, and that made it difficult for the staff to meet their annual targets.
He also called for capacity building and skills training for the staff, saying that since issues concerning children demanded special skills there was the need for the staff to be trained adequately to live up to their task.
Some of the staff also raised concerns such as poor remuneration, poor working environment and lack of motivation.
The minister in response said the ministry had appealed to some of its partners for computers and other logistics, and therefore promised that when ever they were made available, she would ensure that the department got its share.
She said the children’s park, which was also under the department, would be given a face-lift by a private developer to ensure that it attracted more revenue for the department.
At the Department of Women, the minister praised the acting Director of the Department, Mrs Francesca Pobee-Hayford, for ensuring commitment and hard work on the part of the staff and encouraged them to continue to exhibit seriousness at all levels to help in the advancement of the status of women in the country.
She said her aim was to work to help better the lot of women and, therefore called on the department to help her achieve that.
She called on the staff to desist from any lackadaisical attitudes and work as a team and share ideas to achieve the objectives of the department and the ministry as a whole.
At both departments the minister stressed the need for them to keep records of their activities for continuity, and also called for attitudinal change on the part of the members of staff.