A day’s orientation programme to receive twenty–one (21) Directors of Agriculture who had been transferred from the Civil Service into the Local Government Service took place at the Conference Room of the Local Government Service Secretariat on the 12th January, 2015.
Welcoming the Directors, the Head of Service of the Local Government Service (LGS), Dr. Callistus Mahama stressed the importance of the Agricultural sector to the country’s socio-economic development. More importantly, their posting to the Service was part of the on-going Public Sector Reforms, which requires the Civil Service to down-size its human resource needs. This had become necessary as the main functions of the Ministries are now limited to policy formulation and co-ordination. Additionally, the above limited functions had triggered Ministerial Re-alignment where the establishments of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) are now determined by their organograms. The excess staff vis-à-vis the organograms had to be redeployed to other entities like the LGS. For instance, the passage of the Legislative Instrument (L. I. 1961), legitimised the transfer of over thirty thousand (30,000) staff from the Civil Service to the Local Government Service. The Schedule One (1) of the said L.I. also brought some Departments including Agriculture under the Assembly system and soon other departments like the Statistical Service would soon follow suit. The Head of Service was therefore, hopeful that the transition of the Directors from the Civil Service to the LGS would be managed well for the benefit of all.
Dr. Callistus Mahama passionately enjoined them to accept postings to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) as an opportunity for them to help to improve the lives of people especially those in the deprived areas and therefore should not be seen as a demotion. Finally, he assured them that the Service would continue to maintain her collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to create a congenial working environment especially in the area of technical assistance.
In a presentation lng. Mrs. Mabel Amoako-Atta, the Director of Management and Technical Services Directorate (MSTD), gave an overview of the Service. She stated that the Local Government Service Secretariat mandated to provide continuous technical back–stopping to the Regional Co-coordinating Councils (RCCs) and MMDAs as and when required.
Mr. James Oppong–Mensah, the Director of Human Resource Development (HRD) on his part, exposed the new Agricultural officers to the Scheme of Service with special reference to that of Department of Agriculture. He further stated emphatically that, the position of a District Co-coordinating Director is now open to all staff; including Agricultural officers. This is a departure from the past where the position was the preserve of a particular class.
In conclusion, Dr. Callistus Mahama wished them the best of everything within the Service.