Feature

To pick or not to pick calls, what we all need to know (The Woes Of A Government Appointee) (1) – Abass Sbaabe writes

In the near future, the circumstances of individuals who readily interact with us will undergo a significant transformation when they are fortunate enough to be appointed to prominent positions, whether at the district, regional, or national levels. There are individuals who appear ordinary, but as soon as they assume higher offices, their statuses change, and an inherent barrier is created between them, their acquaintances, and ordinary party supporters.

Almost every Ghanaian, from farmers and mechanics to drivers, koko sellers, kayayei, and even junior and senior high school students, possesses a mobile phone. The widespread use of mobile phones implies that government appointees will inevitably be inundated with numerous calls from constituents, family, and friends. When the NDC was defeated in 2016, one of the accusations leveled against government appointees was that they rarely answered calls. The same allegations are being made against the appointees of the outgoing government of Nana Addo. It is therefore easier to predict that the first accusations party people will level against people yet to be appointed by John Mahama to key positions in his administration will be their failure or inability to pick calls.

The lives of government appointees are heavily influenced by mobile phone calls, which frequently disrupt their schedules. The appointees’ time is often consumed by lengthy conversations with callers who manage to get through.

Let me illustrate this with my personal experiences as a DCE.

Two gentlemen entered my office on a Monday morning during my tenure as District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa. Their demeanor indicated that they were harboring concerns.
“We called you several times, but you didn’t pick up,” the older gentleman stated, reading from my charge sheet. I apologized profusely for my perceived rudeness and invited them to take a seat. They had come to discuss the developmental agenda for their area, expressing concerns that the Assembly Member was not doing enough. As party members, they felt compelled to intervene.

I listened attentively, and before the gentleman could complete two statements, my mobile phone rang. I excused myself to take the call, spending four minutes on the line. The caller, from Tremeleveme, requested that we extend the school feeding program to their school and provide electricity to the village. I thanked the caller and resumed my discussion with the two gentlemen from Sonupko-Vugligli.

Before the gentleman could utter another word, my phone rang again, disrupting our discussion. I picked up the call and spent a few minutes on it. The District Finance Officer entered with some urgent documents, and my visitors had to wait outside. We spent approximately 15 minutes reviewing financial documents.

I ushered my guests back in, but before they could sit down, another call came in, which I decided to pick up. The caller prolonged his pleasantries, causing me discomfort, but I maintained my composure. My guests were becoming increasingly uncomfortable, having travelled at their own expense and risked their lives to visit the District Assembly, only to have the DCE attend to other callers.

The constant flow of documents to and from the registry, operations room, District Finance Officer, District Coordinating Director, and others was frustrating for my visitors. I suspect they were thinking about why their calls sometimes went unanswered. They were beginning to appreciate the task involved in the work of a government appointee. I deliberately removed my phone from vibration to ringer so they could hear calls from the constituents. I also deliberately decided to pick all calls so they can understand that if I decide to pick all calls, it means my work at the office will come to a standstill.

Perhaps it is time for us, as Ghanaians, to reassess our approach. We need to enable government appointees to focus on their work. We should be mindful of the timing of our calls, and when we do get through, we should adhere to the KISS principle: Keep It Simple and Straightforward.

But why do people who have been elevated through our collective efforts decide to completely ignore our calls and messages when we know they talk to other people? Read part 2 for an answer.

By Comrade Abass Sbaabe