VRA endorses campaign on punctuality

The Lead Punctuality Crusader of Punctuality Ghana Foundation (PGF), Mr Emmanuel Amarquaye, has stated that revenue mobilisation in the public sector will improve significantly if only public institutions are punctual in meeting targets for service delivery.

According to him, failure on the part of many public institutions to deliver services timely to their clients is a major contributory factor to their inability to improve on their internally generated funds (IGFs), as well as contribute significantly to the national kitty.

Mr Amarquaye made the remarks at a punctuality awareness and education campaign organised by the management of the Volta River Authority in Accra yesterday.

"Ghana's economic transformation thrives on our ability to generate funds internally and this can only be made possible when punctuality is tied to productivity.

“Public institutions must deliver services on time to encourage their clients to pay more for the service when needed.

I use the Lands Commission as an example where people are willing to pay for services but are not getting them, and this comes at a loss to both the institution and the government," he said.

Given the current circumstances, Mr Amarquaye proposed that modern clock-in devices be installed in all public institutions to improve on punctuality and accountability.

Punctuality campaign

The 'Punctuality awareness and education campaign' is aimed at promoting punctuality in all spheres of national life.

It is also to reinforce President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s call for punctuality and the need to do away with the canker of lateness to official and public functions.

At yesterday’s ceremony, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services at the VRA, Mr Bernard Kofi Ellis, together with the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Engineering and Operations at the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Osafo, led the management of the company to endorse the campaign.

The campaign has already been endorsed by some leading public figures and officials, including the Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, Mr Mustapha Hamid; Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye; Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Ignatius Baffuor Awuah; immediate past Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr Opoku Onyinah, and the President of UT Holdings, Mr Prince Kofi Amoabeng.

VRA’s endorsement

In a speech read on his behalf, the Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, explained that the VRA decided to endorse the campaign because the campaign’s objectives were in line with its core values which included accountability, commitment and integrity.

He said even though the company had always applied the principles of punctuality and hard work in its service delivery duties, it would sustain the culture in order for it to achieve its development agenda to the full.