Public sector reform must prioritise staff welfare – Dr Aggrey-Darkoh

Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, the Head of the Civil Service, has urged public sector reform to prioritize staff welfare, teamwork, and discipline to enhance overall performance. At the conclusion of a cooking competition and health fair organized for civil servants as part of Civil Service Week activities, Dr Aggrey-Darkoh emphasized the importance of such initiatives in reducing workplace stress and fostering camaraderie.

The theme for this year's Civil Service Week, which involves all Ministries and Departments under the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, is "The Resetting Agenda for Sustainable Development in Ghana: The Civil Service's Responsibilities."

Dr Aggrey-Darkoh believes that regular events like these are crucial for staff to unwind, interact, and collaborate. He noted that people were experiencing pressure, and organized activities help maintain a positive spirit among employees. He stressed the necessity of discipline, effective time management, and teamwork in daily work, highlighting that managing time efficiently is a sign of a developed country.

Regarding the cooking competition, Dr Aggrey-Darkoh pointed out that hygiene and food quality were vital judging criteria, as consuming unhealthy food can be detrimental to one's health. He drew on his experience as a former supervisor in the United Kingdom's food industry to emphasize the importance of a safe food environment.

The activities planned for Civil Service Week, which runs for a week, included a policy fair, cooking competition, health screenings, a clean-up exercise, sporting events, and an awards ceremony. Dr Aggrey-Darkoh emphasized that these events were in line with the government's reset agenda and aimed to make the public sector stronger and more enterprising, urging everyone to contribute to achieving set targets.