Accra, June 29, GNA – The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has donated a 30-Seater Nissan Bus to the Civil Service Training Centre (CSTC), as part of efforts to help strengthen the human resource capacity of Ghana’s Civil Service.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Accra, Mr Araki Yasumichi, the Chief Representative of JICA, said the event marked another monumental landmark in the relationship that existed between JICA, the Office of the Head of Civil Service and the Centre.
He noted that JICA had enjoyed a good working relationship with CSTC since the first technical cooperation project was initiated about 15 years ago.
He said through the flourishing relationship, the Agency had extended several supports through its Technical Corporation Projects and Grant Aid Scheme.
Mr Araki said through this partnership, JICA had strengthened the technical capacity of staff of the Centre to deliver and manage high level and quality training in the areas of ethical leadership, quality productivity and public service delivery improvements to staff of the Civil Service of Ghana.
“Not only have we focused on the training capacity of the Centre, but we have also supported immensely the physical infrastructure and logistical capacity of the Centre,” Mr Araki said.
“Our collaboration has grown from strength to strength and today, we hand over this 30-Seater Bus to CSTC to mark the beginning of, yet another Technical Corporation project dubbed ‘Strengthening the Human Resource Capacity of the Civil Service’.”
He said through this project, JICA intends to support the delivery of Scheme of Service training to over two thousand Civil Service Staff from various ministries, departments and agencies.
He said in addition, JICA intends to further deepen the Capacity of the CSTC through the procurement and installation of a Learning Management System to facilitate both on-line and face-to-face learning in addition to the 30-Seater Bus.
“This 30-Seater Bus it is hoped would enable CSTC organise and convey course participants for on-site visits and practical and hands-on learning,” Mr Araki said.
“Our dream is to make CSTC the preferred institution for Civil Service Training and a Centre of Excellence not only in Ghana but also in the Subregion”.
He said JICA would continue to make Human Resource Development a priority and partner with the Ghanaian Government to accelerate the development of its Human Resource to serve its people and achieve economic growth.
He urged the Management and Staff of CSTC to extend to the Bus their high-level maintenance culture that the Agency had witnessed with its previous support to the Centre.
Receiving the Bus, Nana Agyekum Dwamena, the Head of Civil Service, expressed gratitude to the Japanese Government for the support.
Touching on JICA’s intention to provide the Centre with a Learning Management System, Nana Agyekum Dwamena said it was timely and that it fitted into the agenda of his Office and the Government perfectly.
He, therefore, urged the CSTC to put in place a counterpart Team to ensure that there was knowledge transfer by the JICA Consultant in the use and application of the methodology and technology of the proposed e-learning management system.
“I consider this a very important part of the project and will therefore, entreat officers involved to be fully committed to the Project,” he said.
The Head of Civil Service also appealed to JICA to help fix the CSTC’s elevator.
Mrs Dora Dei-Tumi, the Principal of CSTC, said the donation would go a long way to cement the partnership and advance the cause of the Centre to train the needed manpower for national development.
“I take this opportunity to also thank the Office of the Head of Civil Service and JICA for partnering with us to improve on the delivery of the quality of our human resources and by extension service delivery in the Service, to one that meets international standards. We cherish your support.”
GNA