[ 2017-02-22 ]

President Nana Akufo-Addo

President urges state institutions to realign operations
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked
state institutions to realign their operations,
especially in the management of time, in order to
ensure that the change in political administration
translates into total change.

He said it was important for the Executive, the
Legislature and the Judiciary to lead the way in
that change process.

In his State of the Nation Address to Parliament
yesterday, the President said the change that
majority of the citizens voted for called for
state institutions to inject some urgency into the
conduct of their businesses in the interest of the
public.

Concerns

The call by President Akufo-Addo came at a time
when many people had expressed worry over
bureaucratic processes in some state institutions
which often lead to waste of contact hours.

Some concerns have also been raised by a section
of the public over the concept of “African
Time”, by which officials and event organisers
report late to functions, only to apologise for a
behaviour they are sure to repeat.

The negative attitude towards time has not only
affected productivity in state institutions but
also set back the socio-economic development of
the country.

Punctuality

Against that back drop, President Akufo-Addo urged
members of the public to stay away from lateness
and be punctual at functions, adding that the
notion that lateness to work and public functions
was a cultural issue would not be countenanced,
especially among public officials.

“Over the years, it has become acceptable
practice that official functions invariably start
and close late. We invite people to functions for
9 a.m. and start at 10 a.m.

“Let us show that we acknowledge that change
has, indeed, come by being punctual to functions.
I intend to set a personal example,” he
stressed.

Environmental protection

The President also stressed the need for the
public to change their attitudes towards
sanitation and the environment.

He urged people to be responsible in their
activities by adopting better and sustainable
habits that would protect and preserve the quality
of the environment.

“We are in danger of destroying our blessed
country. Ours is a beautiful country. If we claim
to love our country, we must take care of the
lands, the trees, the water bodies and the
animals. They are part of what makes Ghana,” he
said.

He observed that continued destruction of the
quality of the environment through indiscriminate
human activities had the potential to hinder the
quality of life of citizens.

Source - Graphic.com.gh

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