CIVIL servants gear up to welcome a new governmen (10/12/08)

9/12/08 Read by E. agyeI
Aftermath of election (GN)
Story: Gifty Bamfo & Jennifer Dornoo
CIVIL servants in state institutions are gearing up to welcome a new government, come January 7, 2009.
Some officials at the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) told the Daily Graphic yesterday that as per the Constitution of Ghana, they would work with any government, be it that formed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) or the People’s National Convention (PNC).
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Defence, Mr E.F. Ofosu-Appeah, said the ministry was ready to work with any government that would take over after the just-ended elections.
He noted that it was the role of the Civil Service to serve any government elected into power by the people with neutrality.
He said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic as it went round to assess the atmosphere at the ministries after Sunday’s polls.
Mr Ofosu-Appeah said the ministry was ready to work with any political party that would be declared winner by the Electoral Commission (EC).
He further said work at the ministry was going on smoothly, as all the workers had reported to work, adding that they were not affected by the anxiety and suspense created by the unannounced election results.
The Director of Finance at the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Siddique, said he was impressed about the peaceful outcome of the elections and commended the EC, as well as Ghanaians, for the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted.
He also said the ministry was ready to serve any government to contribute to the development of the country.
The Head of Public Relations at the Ministry of Health, Mr Dan Osman, urged Ghanaians to be patient, remain calm and await the declaration of the results because it was the duty of the EC to announce them within 72 hours.
He said civil servants were hopeful that the new government would improve upon their working conditions, adding that they were prepared to work effectively with the next government.
A Senior Private Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Christabel Quaye, said she was anxious to know the outcome of the elections.
She urged Ghanaians not to engage in any violent acts to disturb the prevailing peace in the country.
As of 11.00 a.m. when the Daily Graphic was leaving the ministries, the atmosphere was quiet, with workers going about their normal duties without discussing the elections.
The usual brisk activities by hawkers, drivers and passengers at the Tema Station Bus Terminal in Accra were absent two days after the elections.
The atmosphere was quiet, as few traders were seen discussing the election results, with station masters listening to some of the results on radio.
Most of the traders and “trotro” drivers expressed worry over the way the elections had affected their businesses.
A second-hand clothes seller, Aunty Mary, said, “A lot of people are not in the market today and the few here are not buying anything.”
She attributed the situation to the anxiety and suspense in the country as Ghanaians waited for the final results from the EC.
When asked about who was going to win the polls, she said she was confused because of the ‘skirt and blouse’ voting pattern and could not tell who was going to emerge the winner.
Kofi Asamoah, a “tro-tro” driver, said he was surprised at the many parliamentary seats being won by the NDC.
He, however, said it was good, since the NPP and the NDC would learn to work together in building the nation.