The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has indicated that since he assumed office as the Speaker and Chairman of the Parliamentary Service Board, he has prioritised the capacity building of Parliamentary staff.
According to him, he firmly believes that enhancing staff competencies is the surest way to effective service delivery and improved productivity.
The Speaker made this statement during the opening ceremony of a four-day professional development training programme for Senior Officials of the Parliamentary Service of Ghana.
He indicated that the recent implementation of a new organogram for the Parliamentary Service had resulted in expanded functional areas and more challenging roles, particularly, for Senior Management Officials of the Parliamentary Service.
In view of that, he said the Board had appointed some key officers to occupy some of the vacant positions while working assiduously to complete the rest of the appointment process.
According to him, the service, therefore, expects that these officers perform critical roles which emphasised on implementation of strategic policies, coordination of operational functions, and quality control.
He added that “this professional training you are about to undergo is not only timely but vital in preparing you to effectively perform your new roles under the current organogram as well as navigate and lead through the implementation of our ambitious goals for the next five years.
This is particularly crucial in the wake of the ongoing implementation of a robust performance management system to recognise and reward excellence, and foster a culture of accountability within the Parliamentary Service.”
The Speaker further stated he had initiated the process for the development in a new 5-year Corporate Strategic Plan to replace the old one which ended this year.
According him, the new plan would provide strategic direction for Parliament for the next five years in order to align with the evolving goals and the dynamic legislative landscape.
“As we embark on the development of our new Corporate Strategic Plan, it is essential that each one of you, as leaders and key contributors to our legislative body, are equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive this vision forward. The plan’s success hinges on our collective ability to execute strategies effectively, manage challenges efficiently, and seize opportunities to innovate and improve,” he indicated.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr Cyril Oteng Nsiah, in his welcome remarks attested to the capacity and competence of the facilities and their Institution and therefore urged officers to actively participate, engage with the facilitators and peers, and embrace the learning journey with an open mind.
According to him, “the insights and skills you will acquire are not just for your personal growth but are crucial for the collective advancement and efficacy of our Parliament”.
Topics to be covered during the training section includes but not limited to Emotional Intelligence, Resiliency, Effective Leadership, Proficiency in Negotiation and Presentation Skills.
The training programme is being organised by the Parliamentary Service in collaboration with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) from the United States of America. The training programme is yet another strategic step forward in our journey towards excellence in legislative governance.
BY TIMES REPORTER
