Be innovative - Osafo-Maafo urges public institutions
A Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has called on public institutions to be innovative and adopt initiatives that will help them achieve their mandate of serving the public.
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Speaking at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority’s (DVLA’s) 25th Anniversary Public Lecture yesterday, Mr Osafo-Maafo said the public had a right to enjoy better services from public institutions.
According to him, for public institutions to properly achieve their mandate of efficiently serving the public, there was the need for consistent implementation of innovations daily.
“Excellence in public service is not a destination but a continuous journey. It requires the commitment to integrity, accountability and a relentless focus on the needs of the people we serve,” he said.
Mr Osafo-Maafo lauded the DVLA for its innovations and excellence in service delivery, describing the Authority as an epitome of excellence in the public sector.
“DVLA’s efforts in improving road safety standards, ensuring compliance with regulations, and providing exceptional customer service are commendable. These initiatives have set the benchmark for other public institutions to follow.
“The Authority’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its ongoing efforts to train and develop staff to implement best practices, and engage with the community,” he added.
Public Lecture
The 25th DVLA Public Lecture was on the theme” Navigating the Future: Innovating and Excelling Public Service”.
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The event which formed part of activities marking the DVLA’s 25th anniversary celebration attracted staff of the Authority and past Chief Executives such as the current First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who served as the CE of the Authority from 2002 to 2008, and Dr J.M.Y. Amegashie who served twice as the CE from 2000 to 2002 and from 2009 to 2013.
Other speakers at the event included a former Chairperson of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Prof. Stephen Adei, and the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, Prof. Raymond Atuguba.
Innovation
Mr Osafo -Maafo said at the heart of any progress and transformation was innovation, and therefore, there was the need for public institutions to be innovative just like the DVLA to achieve their mission of serving the public
“In leveraging technology, DVLA has been able to provide faster, more reliable services, reduce waiting times, and improve overall customer satisfaction. Furthermore, these innovations have enhanced its ability to collect and analyse data, leading to more informed decision-making and better resource allocation,” he added.
According to him, DVLA was part of selected public entities under a public sector reform project supported by the World Bank, and with excellent leadership, DVLA was able to implement a comprehensive reform programme that made it a shining example in the public sector.
Excellence
The Chief Executive of DVLA, Kwasi Agyeman Busia, said the Authority had gone through tremendous progress throughout its 25 years of existence and was now seen as an example of excellence in the country.
“The journey of our organisation is one of profound transformation. You would undoubtedly recall a few years ago, we faced significant challenges, including being labelled among the most corrupt institutions in Ghana,” he said.
The DVLA, he said, decided to reinvent itself and with hard work and support from all stakeholders, was seen as an example of what an efficient public institution ought to be.
“Through the relentless commitment to our strategic plan's foundational principles of People , Processes and technology supported with transparency, accountability and service excellence, DVLA has undergone a remarkable evolution” he added.
For his part, Prof. Adei advised the DVLA not to become complacent but to adopt a continuous improvement strategy to enable it to deliver excellent service always.
