The Ga West Municipal Assembly on Friday, 6th February 2026, organized a Staff Durbar and Performance Appraisal Training at the Assembly Hall as part of its efforts to strengthen staff capacity and improve performance management system.

The programme brought together the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the Presiding Member (PM), the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Departmental Heads Unit Heads and staff of the Assembly. The initiative aimed at enhancing staff efficiency, promoting professionalism, and preparing officers to effectively support Management in achieving the Assembly’s development objectives.

The event commenced with opening formalities, followed by a roll call of departments and units, including Administration, Finance, Agriculture, and other key sections. This exercise fostered unity and reinforced a sense of shared responsibility among staff.

Mr. Julius Azumah, the Deputy Director, officially introduced the newly appointed Municipal Coordinating Director, Mrs Louisa Benon, describing her as energetic and committed to teamwork and open communication.

 Mrs Benon, in her address emphasized the importance of professionalism, discipline, punctuality, mutual respect, and aligning individual and departmental goals with the Assembly’s development agenda. She assured staff of her readiness to engage, listen, and work collaboratively to improve overall organizational performance.

An interactive session allowed staff to ask questions and seek clarification on performance expectations. Management explained that annual performance assessments would be used to measure achievement of agreed objectives and announced plans to recognize and reward outstanding departments and officers at year's end. Staff were therefore encouraged to work diligently and competitively.

During the open forum, participants raised several operational challenges, including inadequate facilities for marriage registration, limited vehicles for revenue mobilization and data collection, boundary disputes affecting revenue generation, damage to Assembly infrastructure, and sanitation concerns within the premises. Suggestions were also made to provide a uniform for taskforce officials for easy identification, improve public communication, implement better waste management practices, and use information vans to educate communities about Assembly activities.

Justice Kojo Antwi Esq., Head of the Human Resource Department, conducted a detailed training on the Performance Management and Appraisal System. He explained that performance appraisals are directly linked to salaries and promotion interviews, and that poor or incomplete appraisals could affect an officer’s employment status. The appraisal process planning, mid-year review, evaluation, and reporting were clearly outlined, alongside key service delivery standards such as professionalism, efficiency, accountability, participation, and transparency. Attendance, punctuality, and adherence to office procedures were strongly emphasized.

Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai, the Municipal Chief Executive, reaffirmed Management’s commitment to teamwork, staff engagement, and improved service delivery during his address. He also reminded staff of their responsibility to justify their salaries through dedication, respect for authority, and effective inter-departmental collaboration. He further assured staff that steps were being taken to address challenges related to vehicles, boundary disputes, security, sanitation, and facilities, stressing that punctuality and performance appraisals are mandatory and closely linked to job security.

Overall, the Staff Durbar and Performance Appraisal Training was successful and set a positive tone for improved performance and accountability at the Ga West Municipal Assembly in the year ahead.

Source: Naomi Akua Amoadjah and Dorcas Asantewaa Osei, ISD, GWMA