The head of Local Government Service, Ing. Dr. Nana Ato Arthur has debunked claims that his office took Six Thousand Ghana cedis GHS6000, from candidates who have been shortlisted to be interviewed for the position of Director and Analogous grades.
He said that the money, which was requested for, was paid on behalf of the assemblies these staff members were working with and not the candidates.
“It’s just prudent that the media always verify their information before publication. Also, confirm things they are not too sure about. It was never true that I requested for such money from candidates before they were granted the interviews. It’s just like a JHS headteacher preparing his final year students for their exams. There are times he will have to camp them elsewhere so they can learn and also write Mock examinations among others- and it’s the same with us”, he explained to Kwaku Dawuro on Movement in the morning show on Wontumi Radio/Movement TV.
He added that because the candidates are many, they are divided for the interview. Those at the Southern belt meets at Elmina whiles those at the Middle Belt meets at Anita Hotel in Ejisu and Nothern belt meeting at Global dreams in Tamale to prepare them for three days. This is in a bid to let them know areas to be covered for the interview.
“Because at that level, we are going more into management. If I’m an engineer and I’m vying for a director position, then you should know that I’m going more into management. so apart from my own technical know-how, these are other areas you need to be looking at. So, this is exactly what we take them through”. Â Where you will sleep and the consultants, that are coming to teach and prepare us are not paid by anyone. I’m not the one to pay, neither is the government going to pay. Therefore, most times, the assemblies from which the staff come from, of course they work at the assemblies, and they will serve the assemblies with the training they receive, so we plead with the regional coordinating council then they support their candidates for the workshop”, he explained.
He stressed that it was even reported that people who hadn’t worked before and were working for the first time were also charged GHS6000 which was never true.
“It was a way of preparing our staff to go for these interviews at that higher level for them to become directors. So that was the money the assemblies were paying for these candidates. It was paid by the assemblies, on behalf of the candidates. And this isn’t anything new. It’s done everywhere. It’s part of your training program and capacity building as a staff”, he concluded.
This comes after it was widely reported that the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service (OHLGS) is requesting the sum of GHS6000 each from some 240 candidates who have been shortlisted to be interviewed for the position of Director and Analogous grades.