Yilo krobo: Issues of staff welfare, discipline, and capacity building took center stage when the Head of Local Government Service (LGS), Professor Lord Mensah, visited the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly (YKMA). This visit was part of the Local Government Service's efforts to assess working conditions at the municipal level and enhance productivity and accountability within the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Mensah addressed management and staff, emphasizing the importance of discipline, punctuality, and adherence to administrative procedures. He warned that negative work attitudes are undermining effective service delivery, citing concerns such as indiscipline, absenteeism, lateness, insubordination, and bypassing established channels of reportage. Prof. Mensah stressed that discipline should begin with leadership and permeate throughout the Assembly.
He outlined the strategic pillars guiding the Local Government Service's operations, including data-driven decision-making in human resource management, professionalizing the Service to build a competent workforce, investing in Public Private Partnerships, and promoting fiscal decentralization. Prof. Mensah believes these guidelines, when applied effectively, will enhance efficiency, generate revenue, and facilitate financial autonomy for Assemblies.
Prof. Mensah also proposed establishing a cr¨che at the Assembly to support nursing mothers, highlighting it as a productivity measure rather than a luxury. The Municipal Chief Executive of Yilo Krobo, Mr. Francis Addo Akumatey, discussed persistent challenges affecting staff welfare and service delivery, such as uneven staff distribution, acute departmental shortages, and inadequate office accommodation.
Mr. Akumatey raised concerns about rising rental costs in the municipality, which have forced some staff to commute from outside, impacting punctuality and productivity. He also emphasized limited opportunities for staff capacity building as a significant setback to effective local governance.
Despite these challenges, Mr. Akumatey shared notable achievements by the Assembly, including an electronic billing and payment system for improved revenue mobilization, the operationalization of the Akutunya lorry park to boost Internally Generated Funds, and the installation of an attendance monitoring system to address lateness and absenteeism. Additionally, the acquisition of a final disposal site at Klo-Agogo and completion of several CHIPS compounds have improved healthcare delivery in the municipality.
Deputy Director of the Assembly, Mr. John Mensin Mframah, expressed gratitude to Prof. Lord Mensah and his team, stating that the guidance provided would strengthen discipline and enhance performance at the Assembly.