The Information Services Department (ISD) has received a new Operating Manual and Scheme of Service. The new manual and scheme were endorsed by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Civil Service, which has the mandate to ensure the fair, transparent and systematic implementation of government pay policy.
The new Scheme of Service has made changes to the hierarchy of job titles in the professional and sub-professional classes of the ISD. The Assistant Director position has been removed from the hierarchy of job titles in the professional class, and three new grades have been added to the sub-professional class.
Addressing management and staff of the department at the third government Public Relations Officers (PROs) Review Summit on Thursday, February 16, 2023, the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the move is to make the ISD an effective and efficient public relations outfit of government.
“In the last 3 and half to 4 years as I have led this Ministry, one of the first things we have done is we have reorganized the organogram of the ISD. The old organogram of 1957, we have successfully changed and the Head of Civil Service has approved of it and very shortly the training programme of people fitting in various roles would now be completed,” he said.
The sub-professional class now starts from Junior Information Assistant, Information Assistant, Senior Information Assistant, Principal Information Assistant, Deputy Chief Information Assistant, and Chief Information Assistant. All journalists have been converted to the Senior Information Assistant grade.
The new Scheme of Service also includes salary adjustments for both professionals and sub-professionals, such as Principal Information Officers, Senior Information Officers, and Information Officers; Senior Information Assistant, Information Assistant, and Information Centre Attendance.
The new Operating Manual provides guidance on the day-to-day operations of the department, including the functions and duties of staff members, procedures for reporting, and performance management.
The new Scheme of Service and Operating Manual are a step towards ensuring fairness and transparency in the implementation of government pay policy, which is one of the mandates of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. The changes to the job titles and salary adjustments are expected to motivate staff members to be more productive and improve the quality of service delivery to the public.
The ISD plays a critical role in disseminating information on government policies, programs, and activities to the public. The new Scheme of Service and Operating Manual will enable the department to carry out its duties more effectively, which will ultimately benefit the public.
