The Ministry of Public Sector Reform on Saturday, organised a float along some principal streets of Accra to mark the Africa Public Services Day. The Day, under the theme; "Promoting Good Governance with Emphasis on Anti-Corruption and Ethics," was selected by African Heads at the third Pan-African Conference of Ministers of Public Service in Namibia in year 2001, with the adoption of the Charter of the Public Service. The Charter, which enjoins member states to enhance professionalism and ethics in the public services, also addresses conditions required for strengthening competence, ethical values, image and code of conduct for African Public Service employees. In his address, Dr. Paa Kwasi Nduom, Minister for Public Sector Reform, said the annual event, which had replaced the Civil Service Week and the Public Services Commission Day in Ghana, aimed at projecting the role of the African Public Services. He underscored the crucial role of Public Services as the prime movers, which at the same time stabilizes the environment for national development. Dr. Nduom said it was the continental objective of leaders in the African region to expose the citizenry to the mandates, role, responsibilities and rights of Public Service institutions, as well as promote and forge partnership for an effective, efficient, transparent and accountable service delivery. "This will ensure greater cooperation and collaboration between public sector organisations and further contribute towards the growth of the economy, through private sector development, good governance and strong partnerships," he said. The Minister explained that Ghana would focus much attention on the second part of the celebrations, which had been scheduled for July 16 to 22, 2007 due to the African Union meetings, and would look at "50 Years of Public Service in Ghana and Prospects for the Next Decade". The weeklong activities would include lectures, presentations and Photo exhibitions to reflect on the performances of the public services in the last 50 years and the way forward to ensuring improved service delivery. Mr. Nduom acknowledged the fact that the Public Services had been under severe strain, saying, "We lack a healthy and conducive environment, but we must also understand and acknowledge the fact that these problems did not just develop." He however, stated that the creation of the Ministry of Public Sector Reform to coordinate the implementation of new direction and the launching of a Comprehensive Work Programme for Reforms in the public sector, were stringent measures by government to make the sector more viable. He said work was progressing steadily on many parts of the various reform programmes, adding that the Ministry was streamlining the various administrative practices that had slowed down service delivery in the public service. "As the different services have been created over the years...various regulations, policies and procedures have been adopted that sometimes conflict, confuse and do not promote the interest of the public. Our task is to work with colleague Sector Ministers and their MDAs to find sustainable solutions to challenges facing us," he said. Dr. Nduom stressed on professionalism as a key component of ensuring quality service delivery and said the Comprehensive Work programme critically addresses such issue and others including pay reforms to ensure equity, transparency and consistent implementation of pay policies across the public services. He said the reform initiative would contribute to the creation of a well-motivated, dedicated and transparent public service that would offer world-class services, which could only be achieved through solidarity. Source: GNA