Enhancing Performance in Eastern Region: Implementation of 2024 Performance Contract

The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, has urged Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and Municipal and District Coordinating Directors (MDCDs) in the region to organize regular meetings in their respective assemblies. The purpose of these meetings is to familiarize their staff with the Performance Contract indicators they have signed onto for the year 2024. This, he stressed, is crucial for ensuring that staff are fully informed about the indicators, enabling them to work towards achieving the set goals.

The performance contract is a component of the Performance Management System (PMS) of the Local Government Service, aimed at enhancing productivity at the regional and district levels. The signing of the contract by representatives from all 26 municipal and district assemblies took place in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, under the supervision of the regional minister.

The primary objective of the PMS is to cultivate a high-performance culture among Local Government Service staff and emphasize the importance of collective performance beyond expectations to improve service delivery and productivity, in accordance with the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).

The monitoring of the assemblies' performance contracts by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has revealed instances where some staff members were not aware of the indicators, while others only became aware during assessments. Mr. Acheampong highlighted the importance of staff engagement in executing the deliverables outlined in the contract, emphasizing that although signed by MDCEs and MDCDs, it is the staff who carry out the work.

Mr. Acheampong urged the signatories to actively participate in the execution of the 2024 Performance Contract to meet the targets aligned with their entities' development. He recommended assigning officers specific indicators, facilitating performance measurement and tracking.

Furthermore, the minister emphasized the importance of achieving targets and goals within the PMS framework, ensuring commitment to duty across management and staff. He announced the upcoming assessment of the 2023 performance contract and urged MDCEs to prepare diligently.

Cyril Dzinyanu Xatse, Head of Human Resources at the ERCC, expressed his vision for the region to lead in the 2024 Performance Contract assessment. Paul Asamoah, Deputy Dean of the Eastern Region Municipal and District Chief Executives, urged colleagues to work diligently, justifying the trust placed in them by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He pledged to work humbly to achieve the contract targets.

Ndinga Nborinyi, Dean of the Eastern Region Municipal and District Coordinating Directors, assured the regional minister of their commitment to adhere strictly to the terms of the 2024 performance contract, emphasizing its benefits for their municipalities and districts.

The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council ranked 4th in the Performance Contract assessment of RCCs, with New Juaben North Assembly ranking second best among all MMDAs nationwide. Notably, 11 districts in the region received an "Excellent" classification, with none falling into the "Unsatisfactory" category. Additionally, no district ranked among the lowest 20 in the Performance Contract assessment.