The newly appointed Chief Director of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC), Rev. Harry Kwatei Owoo has urged staff of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to adopt what he described as the “Five Ps”- purpose, punctuality, productivity, professionalism, and performance - as guiding principles for improved service delivery and institutional excellence.

Addressing staff of the Assembly during a familiarisation visit to the AMA, the Chief Director said every public servant must understand his or her purpose, report to work on time, remain productive, uphold professional standards and deliver measurable results in the interest of the public.

Explaining the “Five Ps,” he said purpose required every staff member to know who they were, why they were in the public service, and what contribution they were making to the Assembly and the country.

He said whether one was an engineer, procurement officer, administrator, planner, accountant or any other professional, it was important to reflect on how one’s role contributed to the development agenda of the Assembly.

On punctuality and productivity, Rev. Owoo reminded staff that the government required only eight hours of their time each working day, stressing that reporting late to work denied the public the service they deserved.

He said it was not enough for staff to report to work early, adding that they must also avoid spending official hours on social media, unnecessary conversations and activities unrelated to their assigned duties.

He expressed concern over unauthorised developments on waterways, wetlands and unapproved lands, saying such practices often occurred when professional standards were compromised, and urged staff involved in planning, works and development control to enforce regulations fairly and consistently.

On performance, the Chief Director said results remained the ultimate measure of public service and urged the AMA to position itself among the top-performing assemblies in the country.

Rev. Owoo said previous national performance assessments showed that in 2021, only three assemblies in Greater Accra achieved excellence, while in 2022, four assemblies from the region were among the top ten performers nationally, and in 2023, only one assembly from the region appeared among the top-performing assemblies.

He noted that although there were no assessments in 2024 and 2025, 2026 presented a fresh opportunity for the AMA and other assemblies in the region to improve their performance adding that strong performance attracted development benefits.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, welcomed the Chief Director and assured him of the Assembly’s support in strengthening discipline, punctuality, productivity and accountability.

He said leadership was not about titles or appearances but about responsibility and results, adding that the work of the Mayor involved field work, market engagements, sanitation enforcement, environmental improvement, and direct interaction with communities.

The Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Hon. Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie also assured him of their full support and cooperation to help deliver development for the people.