Accra,(Greater Accra) 23, Sept. Civil servants were today urged to show interest in their welfare and be aware of laws governing their employment. Mr. Tennyson Foli, Regional Chairman of the Civil Servants Association of Ghana, told members at a forum in Accra that they should be familiar with ”our various schemes of service, the Civil Service Law (PNDCL 327), as well as the Constitution”. Mr. Foli said the lack of knowledge of the contents of the Constitution and the Civil Service Law has made civil servants apathetic to their own welfare. ”It is unrealistic for members of the association to wait to be told that they are qualified to be promoted before they make the efforts. ”Those whose promotions are based on passing examinations would wait until examinations are over before they wake up from their slumber”, he added. Mr. Foli said supervising officers fail to submit staff performances appraisal reports annually. ”This”, he said, ”militates against the progress of civil servants”. He said the appointment of contract officers and advisers should not hinder the promotion avenues of serving, diligent and energetic staff. On taxes, the chairman lauded government’s efforts to increase revenue collection for development but pointed out that the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in the general tax collection system, should be corrected. ”We support the call on the Ministry of Mines and Energy to protect consumers against arbitrary increase in the prices of petroleum products. ”The question of petroleum increases should be controlled by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission,” he added.
