COVID-19 Fight: Chief of Staff’s Dexterity at Work

As the government is moving with alacrity to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana, almost all hands are on deck at the Presidency, Jubilee House to give Ghanaians the best of support and services.

One person whose dexterity and agility is pushing the government but is always silent in these trying times is the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.

The first female Chief of Staff of Ghana after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s travel ban on appointees to prevent the importation of the COVID 19, has been coordinating all government sectors all in the efforts to prevent the deadly bug from wreaking havoc on Ghanaians.

As a serious-minded person, the scandal-free Chief of Staff did not linger on in offering meaning to the Presidents donation of three months’ salary vis a vis the 50% voluntary salary support of his aides and appointees by writing to the Controller and Accountant General to effect those deductions at source for the period covering April, May and June into the National COVID-19 Trust Fund set up by the President.

Since the announcement of the fund, the ever-smiling Chief of Staff has not relaxed in meeting with donors, Corporate Ghana and individuals promptly at the Presidency to receive their contributions.

The energy level, per what Mrs. Osei-Opare is displaying could not be questioned as she always gets to the Presidency early and is last to leave her Secretariat. One thing running through appointees of the government is that nobody seems to be tired because the Chief of Staff doesn’t get tired.

Although, there is much focus on the COVID-19, the Chief of Staff has not lost focus on her role on coordinating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies through effective monitoring for efficient service delivery.

Her supervisory role is well planned that all Ministries, Agencies, and Departments are on board in the fight against the COVID 19.

The timely intervention of the Chief of Staff in addressing complaints by Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are playing various roles to ensure the success of government business with jet-speed, thereby making mistakes minimal.

There is no gainsaying that Mrs. Frema Osei-Opare is on top of her game as the Chief of Staff in these not-too-good times as she is working hard for Ghana in the fight against COVID-19 in earnest.