Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to join you all at this important workshop.

The event is a very special one since it underscores my Government’s effort and commitment to improve and strengthen linkages that are necessary for ensuring that Government policies and programmes are properly formulated, articulated and that the intended outputs and outcomes are realized in a coherent manner.

As I said when I reconstituted the new Government on 7th December, 2005 and in my address to the nation on 12th December, 2005, the challenges facing us while we conduct Government business are enormous.

The process of economic reconstruction for our country demands that we sustain gains already made in reviving the economic recovery of our country after years of stagnation. We must also map out strategies to address the needs and aspirations of all our people.

The conduct of Government business requires unity of purpose on our part, and a harmonious approach to all issues. You should always remember that you are employees of the tax-paying public who have high expectations on the services you deliver. You are therefore held accountable for the decisions and actions you take while discharging your official responsibilities.

In addition, not all honourable Ministers, Assistant Ministers and Permanent Secretaries/Accounting Officers will have equal knowledge and experience on the functions and operations of Government. It is therefore necessary to develop strategies that will ensure a common approach, understanding and interpretation of issues. This will ensure proper coordination, and efficiency in the management of public affairs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you undertake your deliberations, I would like to highlight key areas that are critical to our success in making the Government system more efficient and effective.

In this regard, adherence to the Code of Conduct and Public Officer Ethics must remain a high priority in the Public Service. As leaders, you are expected to adhere to a new code of conduct and a management accountability framework that is intended to enhance collective responsibility, ethics and results in Government.

In order to enhance and preserve the integrity of the Government in the eyes of the public, it is imperative that you act with honesty and impartiality. I, therefore, urge you to avoid placing yourselves under any form of financial obligations to individuals or organizations that might seek to influence the performance of your official duties. Accordingly, gifts or hospitality, which might appear to compromise objective judgment or place you under an improper obligation, should not be accepted.

Closely related to good conduct is the need for each one of you to spearhead the war against corruption in your respective areas of jurisdiction. My Government remains committed to fighting corruption in all its forms. You are required not only to be on guard against corruption, abuse of office, and influence peddling in all forms, but also to actively participate in the fight against the vice by being alert in order to promptly detect all improper activities in your Ministries and bring the offenders to justice.

Moreover, you must place particular emphasis on the prudent management of public resources. Public resources must be utilized prudently and lawfully. All types of wastage and extravagancies that have been common in the Public Service in the past must be eliminated.

I also expect that you will embark on speedy implementation of government projects. It is disheartening when government funds allocated for projects meant for the public good are returned to the Treasury at the end of the financial year.

To entrench the economic gains we have made in the last three years, I expect projects, especially those to do with infrastructure development to be implemented without delay and completed on time and within the projected cost.

Indeed, the introduction of the results-based management system constitutes an important step towards improving service delivery. The Government has put in place strategic plans in the entire Public Service to ensure that service delivery is efficient, focused and timely.

You will be expected to continually set clear targets through the strategic planning process and ensure that these targets are met. In this regard, powers should be appropriately delegated in order to ensure continuity of service delivery when those responsible are absent.

This will ensure prompt and predictable services to members of the public during all normal business hours.

In connection with results based-management, the Government has introduced performance contracts throughout the Public Service. It is expected that you will not only enforce these contracts but also sign them yourselves. I should emphasize that performance contracts will only have meaning when performance appraisals are carried out in the entire Public Service.

The Government has designed a performance appraisal system to allow for an objective annual review of individual staff performance. As leaders in the Public Service, you will be expected to ensure that performance appraisals are carried out as and when they are due.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the conduct of your day-to-day responsibilities, you will be required to observe the principle of transparency, which dictates that members of the public are entitled to have access to non-confidential information on the operations and activities of the Public Service.

Transparency does not, however, entitle you to breach your normal responsibility of ensuring confidentiality under the current Government rules and regulations. However, where possible full information on matters of public interest should be made available by those authorized to do so. Decisions and actions of public servants must, therefore, be open, restricting information only when it is in the public interest.

As you are aware, economic growth today is driven by the knowledge and service-based sectors, where ease of information transactions is a key determinant of success. In appreciation of this important development, the Government has developed an Information and Communications Technology policy in which e-Government is an integral part. The implementation of this policy will further increase efficiency in the Government and at the same time help to reduce pilferage and misappropriation of funds. I urge you to ensure that this policy is operational within your ministries and departments.

As leaders, Ladies and Gentlemen, you will also be expected to uphold the principle of collective responsibility. This requires that you express the views you may have freely and frankly in private while maintaining a united front once decisions have been reached.

In addition, and in order to ensure that Government policy matters are properly articulated, defended and communicated, Honorable Ministers and Assistant Ministers are expected to attend Parliamentary sessions.

In concluding my remarks, let me remind you all of the need to efficiently co-ordinate our interventions as we deal with the current famine that I declared a national disaster.

As we take short-term measures of providing food, water and other essential services, we must not lose focus of the need to implement long-term measures that will eliminate food shortages from our country. We may not stop droughts, but we can adequately plan for such eventualities.

Finally, Ladies and Gentlemen, I urge you to continually consult and explore better ways of working together as members of a team. As we reflect on the challenges ahead of us, let us have frank and open discussions that will help us adopt a coherent approach to the implementation of Government policies and programmes.

Thank you and God bless you all.