A handbook that spells out the Ministry of Finance’s Employee Wellbeing policy on communicable and non-communicable diseases including HIV and AIDS, hypertension, cancers and malaria has been launched by the Deputy Minister of Finance, in charge of Revenue Kwaku Kwarteng at the Ministry of Finance during the Ministry’s first staff durbar of the year.
Deputy Minister who was assisted by Chief Director, Ministry of Finance, Patrick Nomo and other management members noted that the welfare of employees has a direct impact on the success of any organization.
“When employees are healthy, they are more likely to perform better, feel happier and are more resilient, as a result, the risk of illness, injury or depression is reduced, and organizations are likely to have lower rates of absenteeism and greater productivity” Kwarteng noted.
The policy was developed in collaboration with Management of the Ministry of Finance due to the profound negative social and economic effects of a stressful workplace or unhealthy work situations. The document has put in place policies and interventions that addresses multiple risk factors and health conditions concurrently.
Charging all staff to embrace this new document, the Deputy Minister of Finance hinted that the policy was to serve as a guide to the Ministry in its quest to prevent the spread of diseases among workers.
As part of work plan for the Ministry for 2019, the Committee will continue to conduct health screen and blood donation exercise, health walk and aerobics at Aburi Mountains, health seminars on lifestyle among others.
Addressing the staff gathered for the 1st staff durbar on behalf of Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister, Hon Kwaku Kwarteng, noted that Ghana’s impending exit from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Credit Facility represented a physical and spiritual liberation for Ghana.
He underscored the need for staff to remain optimistic and continue to offer the much needed support to the new Divisional Directors and the new Coordinating Director roles established by the Office of the Head of Civil Service as part of the Ministry’s restructuring exercise.
According to Ofori-Atta, the Ministry was undertaking a skills audit at the end of which there would be further changes at the middle and junior management levels to ensure optimal use the talents and skills at the disposal of the Ministry.