Three public sector institutions have been presented with modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment worth about GHC8.9 million to digitalise public services for enhanced efficiency.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Public Services Commission (PSC), and the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development were the beneficiaries.
The DVLA received a Desktop Card Printer, Card Print Device, signature pads, fingerprint readers, and cleaning swab kits, all valued at GHC8,312,121 while the PSC took delivery of video conferencing equipment, 75’ smart television, laptops, colour printers, digital camera, server wracks, among other items valued at GHC552,635.
The Ministry, however received laptops, colour printers, projector, and wireless router valued at GHC104,312.
The donation of the equipment formed part of the Public Sector Reform for Results Project (PSRRP) which was being implemented by the Public Sector Reform Secretariat under the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor with US$32 million funding from the World Bank.
The four-year PSRRP, which commenced in 2019 is aimed at improving efficiency and accountability in the delivery of public services by key public institutions.
Presenting the equipment, Senior Presidential Advisor, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, said the equipment was procured to support the three institutions to effectively execute their mandate to enhance service delivery.
As a developing country, he said, improving efficiency in the delivery of public services through modernisation was critical in making the public sector an effective enabler of socio-economic growth.
“The private sector can only function properly when the public sector delivery is efficient. We want the public service to be oriented along these lines that they would provide service to the private sector to make money for the economy to grow,” MrOsafo-Maafo stated.
He charged the beneficiary institutions to utilise the equipment for its intended purposes to drive efficient service delivery.
Chief Executive Officer of the Public Sector Reform Secretariat, Thomas KusiBoafo, said the project covered 13 public institutions including the three beneficiaries, Passport Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Birth and Death Registry, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, among others.
He urged the beneficiary institutions to pitch their service delivery development ideas and strategies to the secretariat for more support under the Project.
A Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, OseiBonsuAmoah, said the equipment would enable the collation of data on the use of funds from the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
“Every analysis, financial statements from all the MMDAs are supposed to come to the Ministry. It is a process which is becoming quite tedious because of its manual nature. This equipment will help our work greatly,” he said.
Mr Akwasi Agyeman Busia, Chief Executive Officer of DVLA, noted of the Authority’s ongoing digitalisation drive which had ensured improved service delivery adding that the equipment would enable continuous improvement in its services.
Chairperson of the Public Services Commission, Dr Janet AmpaduFofie, said the equipment would enhance the Commission’s supervisory duties and reduce operational cost and time.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
