Overall Best Performed Chief Director for 2021, has been conferred on Mr. Patrick Nomo, a Chief Director, Ministry of Finance, at the 4th Edition of the Civil Service Awards Ceremony held at the Alisa Hotel, North Ridge.

Speaking on behalf of all 2021 Awardees, Mr. Nomo, acknowledged his selection for the prestigious award for the 2nd time. He further dedicated his award to all Chief Directors and the entire Civil Servants. Saying, “I believe this award is not just for me but to all who are working very hard to bring the Service performance in the Public Sector of Ghana to a level that is appreciable to all the citizens of Ghana”.

He envisaged that Ghana would move from its current state to a “Ghana beyond aid; a Ghana that is digitalized; a Ghana through whose efforts through digitalization brings revenues beyond what we can use within our country and Ghana becoming one of the donors on the international scene”.

The ceremony, which climaxes the week-long Civil Service Week Celebration, is in line with the provision in Section 88 of the Civil Service Act, 1993, Act 327.

It sought to award 100 Officers selected on merit from the various Ministries and Departments, for their excellence in the 2021 Performance year. Also, it serves as an avenue to recognise other dignitaries who have contributed to the growth and development of the Civil Service over the years.

Awardees spanned from the Professional and Sub- Professional Classes as well as Heads of Departments, Chief Directors, Honorary Awards and Special Awards.

The Head of Service, Nana Agyekum-Dwamena, reiterated at the event that the Civil Service Awards seek to “honour the contributions of meritorious Officers to the accomplishment of the targets of their respective Ministries and Departments for the year 2021”.

He further urged Awardees to work towards becoming better versions of themselves rather than getting overly excited about their accomplishments.

“I am sometimes saddened by the attitude of a few bureaucratic heads who still deny deserving officers’ opportunities to be considered for recognition and awards”, he lamented. Cautioning that, “this attitude is unpatriotic and I ask that you stop”.

“In the execution of the mandate of all Civil Service Staff, I believe ceremonies such as this, will aid in promoting our virtues of loyalty, excellence, and service. It will significantly advance our nation’s productivity and the Civil Service's reputation”, he acknowledged.

Speaking on the year’s theme, Nana Agyekum-Dwamena, recalled a statement made by the World Bank President, Mr. David Malpas at the G20 summit in 2021, "we will not be able to fully benefit from human progress without digitalization. The transformation of social services, finance, health, education, and agriculture depends on digitalization”.

According to the Head of Service, “it is in this regard that the theme for the celebration: “Digitalization in the Civil Service of Ghana: An Agenda for Improved Productivity and Service Delivery” is apt. As a matter of fact, digitization has aided the Civil Service in exploring technological solutions for most of its tasks and in using more e-governance strategies to provide services.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the event, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr.  Mahamudu Bawumia, congratulated all awardees and called on them not to rest on their laurels but remain consistent in making Ghana better. “Congratulations to all awardees; I say, keep up the good work and continue to work selflessly in building a better Ghana”, he stressed.

Touching on the 2022 theme of the Civil Service Week Celebration, he recalled that, “His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, launched the National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS) (2018 - 2023) on August 8, 2018, with the goal of leading the creation of a new Public Service that is fit-for-purpose and positioned to guarantee the delivery of high-quality services for the Ghanaian people and the private sector”.

In light of this, the Vice President, commended the Ghana Civil Service for its adoption of digital transformation systems in service delivery to enhance productivity.

“The Civil Service has adopted the use of digital tools and systems, which has contributed significantly to change in work processes and contributed to economic growth of our country. There is the operationalisation of the Ghana Integrated Information Management Systems (GIFMIS) which include the Integrated Personnel Payroll Database (IPPD) for payment and the HRMIS for the HR management in the public sector; the Smart Workplace system to enhance inter-ministerial collaboration; and Online Application and E- Recruitment Processes”, he noted.

Adding that, “others are the E-Procurement Initiatives; E-records management by PRAAD; Electronic Staff Performance Appraisal Reporting (E-SPAR) system in pilot phase; conduct of Virtual Promotions; and a number of e-governance initiatives to enhance workflow for effective and efficient service delivery”.

Dr. Bawumia further stressed that “a purposeful drive in our Digitalization Agenda will contribute to improved transparency and faster and better work processes, decision–making and impressive customer satisfaction. These benefits should spur us on to introduce more digital solutions”.

Nonetheless, he acknowledged some challenges confronting the technological drive of the Civil Service. Saying, “I am also informed of the difficulties of the technological uptake in the Civil Service such as; Access to connectivity for most Departments of the Service especially in the regions and districts, low budget to procure IT infrastructure and accessories to do basic work and improve operations and the hands-on training of staff in digital systems”.

“To this end and to fully reap the benefits of digitalization require that we have a clear strategy as a country and ensure that not everyone is left out of the value chain”, he recommended.

Concluding, he quizzed, “How do you envision the Ghana Civil Service in the next decade?”

Dr. Bawumia, called on all Civil Servants to contribute their quota in the digitalization agenda.  Noting, “improved productivity and service delivery agenda is no vision that can be achieved overnight, nor by one man's effort; it is a collaborative task. As the Ghanaian adage translates- ‘a broom stick breaks easily, but a bunch will not’, I encourage all Civil Service Staff to remain resolute and instrumental in contributing to this Agenda, for the future is bright”.

Applauding the Leadership of the Ghana Civil Service, he expressed, “I would like to use this opportunity to applaud the leadership of the Ghana Civil Service for their altruistic and relentless service. Bravo! To the Office of the Head of the Civil Service (OHCS), for the successful organization of the Civil Service Week and Awards ceremony”.

Gracing the event were; Chief Directors, Directors, Deputy Directors, Heads of Departments, Retired Officers, and a host of dignitaries with CLOGSAG Band performing a live band.