Former President Jerry John Rawlings has advised civil servants not to undermine their compatriots when a new government comes into power by telling lies and betraying them to the new ministers. He said some civil servants carried out such acts to get their colleagues transferred so that they could take their positions. "Building internal mistrust is one sure way to allow political manipulation," he said at the opening of the quadrennial national delegates congress of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOSAG) in Cape Coast yesterday. He, however, said there were significant number of civil servants who were respected by both sides of the political divide because they were efficient, competent and unbiased in their approach to issues. The five-day congress on the theme: "The role of the civil and local government staff in central and local governance," will elect new officers for the next four years. Delegates will also take stock of the activities of the association in the past four years and chart a new course for the future. Mr. Rawlings lent support for the association in its agitation to negotiate for its own conditions of service without any interference under the Single Spine Salary Structure. "I am no labour expert but it comes as unusual that an organisation with over 43,000 members cannot negotiate for its wages." He expressed the hope that some sense of logic and understanding would prevail so that CLOGSAG could resolve the outstanding issue with the government, the Labour Commission and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, over the computation of the Single Spine Salary Structure. Mr Rawlings expressed concern about the existing bureaucracy within the civil service structure which he said had been perceived as deliberate delay tactics frowned upon by politicians. He, therefore, urged the association to do a thorough introspection of their weaknesses to serve the nation better. He also admonished the members to exercise a high level of professionalism, fairness and transparency in the performance of their duties. "A few too many civil servants fail to apply fairness and justice, inpartiality and integrity and are so uncivil when approached by clients." He noted that some people were generally hesitant to visit certain offices within the ministry and local government department for the simple reason of the cold treatment of disrespect that might be metted out to them. Ex-President Rawlings further underscored the need for the association to be recognised as a professional and independent body not susceptible to petty political intrigues, saying "we play a partisan role to the detriment of our profession and integrity". He asked members of CLOGSAG not to allow their political sympathy or allegiance to override the logic and integrity of their input to government programmes. He commended CLOGSAG for its work in improving the lot of its members and identifying ways of tapping the large base of the membership for a common good. The outgoing president of CLOGSAG, Rebertson Nii Acquaye Allotey, said the association over the past year, had procured 15 vehicles to aid the mobility of its national and regional offices. The association is also constructing a 67-bed hotel with 600 capacity conference hall at Cape Coast, work on which is 80 per cent complete. The chairman of the Civil Service Council and Chairman for the occasion, Dr. Robert Dodoo, pledged the council's support for the association to ensure realistic Single Spine Salary Structure for its members. Source: Ghanaian Times