CIVIL SERVANTS MUST NOT CAMPAIGN FOR POLITICAL PARTIES (PAGE 13, SEPT 16, 2010)

THE Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo has called on Civil and Public servants who are desirous to openly mount political platforms to stop the practice.
He declared, “I do not want any civil/public servant to stand on a platform and campaign for the National Democratic congress (NDC) party during elections”.
“That is not the rule of the game and so those who wish to do so should resign their positions and behave as politicians. My advice is that, you remain as neutral as possible in the performance of your duties as Civil/Public servants,” Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo stated.
The regional minister, who was interacting with heads of department and other staff of the Kintampo North Municipal and the Kintampo South District Assemblies at Kintampo and Jema respectively, further cautioned civil/public servants not to use state resources to engage in politics.
He maintained that, it was incumbent for them to continue to show their commitment and dedication to duty, no matter which government was in place, adding that, “Do not allow your personal interests to overshadow the generality of the people you serve”.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, who was on a two-day working visit to the two administrative areas, admonished the heads of department to set good examples for their subordinates to emulate, saying that, they should eschew lateness to work and ensure environmental cleanliness, and make sure that, furniture, curtains and other office appliances were decent.
He emphasised that, it was only when the heads were disciplined that they could compel their junior members of staff to live above reproach, pointing out that, their decent appearances ought to reflect what pertained in their respective offices.
Apart from the meeting with the heads of department, the regional minister, led by the respective Municipal and District Chief Executives for those areas, Messrs Alhassan Seidu Harrison and Kojo Nyamekye Datiakwa, inspected ongoing and completed development projects, including educational, health, water and sanitation structures and facilities, which were financed at huge costs.
The regional minister, also paid courtesy calls on a number of chiefs, including Nana Yusif Fanyinama III, President of the Council of Wangara Chiefs in Ghana at Kintampo, who in an address, appealed to Mr Nyamekye-Marfo to use his good office to ensure that, Kintampo township roads and drains were put in good shape.
Nana Fanyinama, again appealed to Ghanaians to exercise restraint and rally solidly behind President, J.E.A. Mills in his bid to share the national cake equitably, saying that, the assertion by a section of Ghanaians that President Mills was slow in his administration did not hold .
From the Palace of Nana Fanyinama, the regional minister also called on Nana Effa Guakuro, Nana Asare Baffoe, Nana Awiti Koffour and Nana Minka Banawa, all traditional authorities at Kintampo, who in their respective addresses, called on the government to improve conditions at Kintampo and its environs.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo gave the assurance that, the government would not renege on its promises to develop all sectors of the economy, saying that, the President recognised and appreciated the confidence the people reposed in him by voting the NDC to power.