The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey has rewarded 20 Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) staff with AI smartwatches and mobile phones for consistently reporting to work before the official 8 a.m. reporting time.

 The rewards followed a month-long attendance monitoring exercise, during which the Assembly identified employees who consistently reported to work before the official 8 a.m. reporting time for recognition.

The initiative forms part of the Mayor's efforts to promote punctuality and strengthen workplace discipline, reinforced by his regular unannounced early-morning visits to various departments and offices of the Assembly to monitor attendance, interact with staff and assess their commitment to duty.

As part of the attendance monitoring over the month, a Human Resource Officer of the Assembly regularly arrives at the premises as early as 6:30 a.m. to record the names of employees who report ahead of the official reporting time, ensuring that their punctuality is documented for assessment.

The records compiled over the month served as the basis for selecting beneficiaries of the rewards, with the distribution of AI smartwatches and mobile phones intended to acknowledge consistent early reporting and motivate other employees to adopt similar work habits.

Speaking during the presentation, Mayor Allotey emphasised that the decision to reward punctual employees was intended to recognise dedication to duty and encourage a culture of discipline, professionalism, and improved productivity across the Assembly.

He emphasised that punctuality remained a fundamental requirement of effective public service delivery, stressing that employees entrusted with public responsibilities must demonstrate commitment by reporting to work on time and making themselves available to serve residents.

The Mayor assured that his administration was committed to motivating hardworking employees while introducing practical measures to strengthen accountability, improve staff performance, and ensure greater efficiency in the Assembly's daily operations.

Since assuming office, Mayor Allotey has adopted a hands-on leadership style, frequently visiting offices in the early hours of the morning to personally assess attendance, engage staff and familiarise himself with activities across the Assembly's departments.

The visits have also provided opportunities for direct interaction with employees, enabling the Mayor to identify operational challenges, address workplace concerns, and encourage staff to approach their responsibilities with renewed dedication and professionalism.