Business grinds slowly at MDAs day one after transition

Business at ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) is grinding slowly, a day after the transition of government. 

Following the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama last Tuesday, all political heads at the MDAs, including ministers and deputy ministers, have officially left their offices, leaving the Chief Directors to serve as caretakers until new appointments are made.

When the Daily Graphic visited the ministerial enclave in Accra yesterday, it came to light that the usual bustling at the MDAs was absent.

Some of the MDAs the Daily Graphic visited were the ministries of Transport, Roads and Highways, Energy, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI); Lands and Natural Resources, Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Education, Finance, Local Government and Rural Development, as well as Works and Housing.

In all the ministries, it was observed that the security operatives were at post. Some civil servants and technocrats were also in their offices.

Atmosphere

The usual hustle and bustle that welcomed patrons at the various ministries was absent at the time the Daily Graphic team visited the offices between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.

Although the civil servants at the ministries were at work, the atmosphere at the ministries was very calm and congenial unlike a few months back, when there were substantive ministers in place. 

The security services assigned to the various MDAs were at post conducting checks on vehicles and some patrons to ensure the security of the offices and their workers.
 

Neutrality

Some of the civil servants told the Daily Graphic that as mandated in the Civil Service Code, they remained politically neutral, which was why they were present to work in the national interest despite the absence of political appointees.

They also told the Daily Graphic that they were putting in place temporary work plans pending the appointment of ministers by the new President to implement the government's policies.                        

Hastening slowly

For instance, the Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Nasir Ahmad Yartey, said the ministry was currently doing some staff appraisals and developing a temporary work plan.

"Political leaders give directives while technical staff do the day-to-day work. We are preparing to implement our work plans, but normally because they are dependent on government policies, we are hastening slowly so that as soon as we have the government's vision, we can align the work plans to it for implementation," he said.

Mr Yartey added that all civil servants at the ministry were at work, except those on leave. "We are back at work and holding ourselves in readiness for any directives," he said. 

No cause for alarm

For his part, the Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Abraham Otabil, said the Chief Director, who was the bureaucratic head of the ministry, was holding the fort in the absence of the political head.

He said the ministry was running optimally and hoped that the new political leader would be appointed as soon as possible to drive the policies of the ministry in line with the direction of the government.

Mr Otabil added that while anticipating the appointment of a new minister and deputies, all agencies under the ministry, particularly the Lands Commission and the Minerals Commission, were rendering key services to members of the public.

"All of our services remain operational but issues that require political fiats will have to be on hold until there is a new political leader at the ministry," he said.