7 November 2007
The Commonwealth Association for the Public Administration and Management
(CAPAM) in collaboration with the Ghana Institute of Management and Public
Administration (GIMPA) is hosting a "Leadership, Learning , Institutes and
Public Service" Conference in Accra, Ghana, from 7 to 9 November
2007.
The Conference is graced by the presence of, among others, HE Alhaji Aliu
Mahama, Vice-President of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Donald McKinnon, Secretary General of
Commonwealth Secretariat, HE Geraldine J Fraser-Moleketi, Minister for Public
Service and Administration in the Republic of South Africa who is also the
President of CAPAM, Hon. Jocelyne Bourgon, Adviser to the Prime Minister of
Canada, Professor Stephen Adei, Rector of GIMPA and members of the CAPAM
Board.
The aim of the Conference is to explore and share good practices on the
strategic leadership challenges and opportunities for senior leaders
responsible for developing the talent needed to meet the challenges of the 21st
Century. The various topics discussed at the Conference are:
* The Challenges facing the Public Service in the 21st Century;
* Leading â The Challenges of Reform;
* Leading â Institutional Alignment with Reform;
* Learning- Developing the Leadership and Talent we need for the 21st Century
Public Service;
* Institutes â Working towards Alignment with Reform Agenda; and
* Institutes Leading and Learning Together â Enhancing Contribution of Learning
and Development to Reform.
Addressing delegates at the Conference, Minister Fraser-Moleketi said, "Key
to public services are progressive leaders who are committed to improving the
plight of their people addressing the challenges posed by globalisation,
poverty and inequality, underdevelopment and uneven development, abuses of
fundamental human rights, discrimination including gender discrimination and
environmental despoliation."
Honoured that this meeting takes place in Ghana on the 50th anniversary year
of Ghana's independence, Minister Fraser-Moleketi recalled the words of Kwame
Nkrumah that, "The independence of Ghana achieved on 6 March 1957, ushered in
the decisive struggle for freedom and independence throughout Africa â freedom
from colonial rule and settler domination. On that day I proclaimed to the
world 'the independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked with the
total liberation of the African continent."
Minister Fraser-Moleketi stated that CAPAM brings together the diversity of
the Commonwealth through its progressive stance of supporting freedom, liberty
of peoples, strengthening public management and good governanceâ¦and this must
be reflected in public administration as a discipline. Through CAPAM, senior
leaders, academics and training institutions exchange experiences and best
practices in public administration.
Minister Fraser-Moleketi stated that, "We can no longer afford to have
public administrations and public administrators who do not adhere to an
embracing accountability â one that is accountable to the public for service
delivery and is more than simply rules bound bureaucratic accountability.
Service delivery which is key to both the improvement and empowerment of the
poor, is hampered by the absence of clearly defined roles and responsibilities,
insufficient and ineffective systems, policies and procedures, the lack of
effective co-ordination of service delivery mechanisms and a culture within
organisations that pays scant attention to the needs of the poor. But we know
full well that improving services and service delivery to the poor is an
important step in the direction of improving their socio-economic well
being".
"To overcome the challenges we have identified, the state has to engage
people in decision making; undertake meaningful consultation; and engage the
marginalised and vulnerable not as the objects of research and study but as
agenda setters. And with regard to fairness, social justice is about fairness
and the reduction of social inequities. This requires the strategic deployment
of human and fiscal resources to promote fairness and equality," said Minister
Fraser-Moleketi.
The Conference ends on Friday, 9 November 2007, where delegates will have an
opportunity to discuss and make proposals for next actions steps, areas for
greater collaboration and areas where strategic intervention is required.
Issued by: Ministry for Public Service and Administration on behalf of the
Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management
7 November 2007
