The Private Enterprise Federation (PEF), a non-profit business institution has launched three (3) Service Delivery Charters for three (3) State Institutions. They are the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Factories Inspectorate and Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority.

The service charters reflect current trends and are robust enough to ensure the delivery of efficient and quality services to the private sector. The charters also set out the standards and provide clients with relevant information on appropriate fees and due processes and procedures to go through when soliciting service from administering agencies.

Launching of the charters in Accra on February 6, 2020, the Chief Executive Officer, PEF, Nana Osei-Bonsu indicated the need for PEF to champion the development of the charters. He said the charters would guide the current operations of business administering agencies that were outdated. That resulted in ineffectiveness due to the delays associated with processing and issuing of mandatory documents like permits, licenses and certificates.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Planning, Hon. Prof. George Gyan-Baffour said the introduction of the service charters would strengthen the capacity of public sector institutions to deliver public goods and services efficiently.

He indicated that the high level of collaboration between state agencies and private sectors to produce the charter emphasizes Government’s commitment to private sector development and participation of citizens in governance and development.

Prof. Gyan-Baffour urged all stakeholders to strictly adhere to the tenets of the charters in order to make the document relevant in serving as a reference for the services delivered to the public.

The Programmes Director, STAR Ghana Foundation, Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu bemoaned how ordinary Ghanaians are made to pay high fees to access goods and services that they are entitled to. He added that corruption generally is a security threat and if not tackled can destabilise the country.

A consultant, Clara Kasser-Tee (Esq) assessed that there was the need for periodic update of the charter, effective feedback mechanisms for clients to report and a focus on service delivery by administering agencies.

She added that the launch of the document would also cure the ills of delaying clients as it clearly spells out the responsibility and functions of various administering agencies.

Presentations made by the state regulatory agencies, Mr. Ebenezer Appah Sampong, Deputy Executive Director – EPA; Mr. Lawrence Zineh Dakura –LUSPA and Mr. Frederick Ohene Mensah, National Director, DFI  showed how timely the publication of the service charters is to the delivery of goods and services in Ghana.

The services charters would help eliminate undue delays and administrative corruption which adds up to cost of doing business in Ghana.

The development of the charters were based on the outcome of research commissioned by PEF and funded by STAR Ghana Foundation on undue delays in the acquisition of permits, licenses and certificates.