ACCRA – Friday March 9, 2018: The Local Government Service (LGS) signed the 2018 Performance Management Contracts (PMCs) between Regional Ministers (RMs) and Regional Co-ordinating Directors (RCDs) as part of efforts to deepen performance management processes commenced by the Service in 2015. Present at the contract signing were the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and the Heads of LGS and Civil Service among others.
The Head of the Local Government Service, Dr. Nana Ato Arthur said, the Performance Contract was critical to create a committed workforce needed to support local and national development efforts. He noted that, as more power and resources were ceded to the local level, it was imperative to strengthen systems and procedures to ensure increased transparency and accountability as well as improved service delivery. He urged the RMs and RCDs to develop a team spirit for successful implementation of the contract.
The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Hajia Alima Mahama applauded the LGS for instituting the Performance Management System to create and maintain a high performance culture. She urged the RMs to support their RCDs to achieve contract deliverables especially in the area of revenue mobilisation. Hon. Alima said government was appreciative of the numerous initiatives undertaken by the LGS to drive administrative decentralisation and ensure delivery of quality services.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the Chairman of the Public Services Commission, it was noted that the purpose of the performance contract was to support high level leadership and accountability across the Public Service including the Local Government Service. The performance contract therefore should be seen by RMs as a tool for assessing the performance of RCDs and a measure for assessing progress of general governance of the respective Regional Coordinating Councils. Parties to the contract were urged to exhibit commitment, trust, confidence and most of all an understanding of the nuances of managing people in a decentralised system.
Contracts between Chief Executives and their Coordinating Directors in all 10 Regions is scheduled to be signed on Tuesday March 13, 2018.