The Chief Executive Of Salt And Light Ministries, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalinda Aryee, has admonished Ghanaians to see public service as a privilege and a call to serve the wider community. She said Ghana needs committed public servants to develop it and that it is important that those who find themselves working in the public space show true dedication.
She stated this on Wednesday when she took her turn on the Bright Conversations series – a platform by MTN Ghana for distinguished personalities who have made an impact on society to tell their stories. It is also an opportunity for the youth to learn from the experiences of these personalities.
This edition – second in the series honored the 75th Anniversary of Dr. Joyce Aryee and celebrated her 40 years work in the public space. The event was part of activities marking MTN Ghana’s 25th anniversary which was launched recently.
Dr Aryee recalled the days where public service was truly the pride of the nation.
“The Ghanaian public servant was so cherished that some of them ended up working in other countries. Many countries were learning from the Ghanaian public servant. Yes, we were that good,” she sated.
She called on all citizens to rededicate their commitment to the development of the country because according to her Ghana can only be developed by Ghanaians.
She shared her experiences on a wide range of issues including politics, social life, mining, education, life in public service, among others.
It was her view that much as politicians need to be held in check for how they govern with the country’s resources on behalf of the people, such accountability must be called when the politicians are allowed to work.
“If we want our politicians to be accountable then we must also allow them to work. Why should you marry and deliver a baby and it is the politician that must be the one to pay for the naming of the baby, or be at your wedding, or the funeral of your relative. Why should it be the politician that must pay your child’s school fees, why? And if this is not done the politician loses the next elections, why?” She asked.
The renowned communications practitioner who was once the Secretary for Education under the Jerry Rawlings led PNDC era passionately appealed to the youth to support the nation’s leaders to fix the country because “fixing the country is a collective responsibility”.
The second edition of the MTN Bright series was on the theme, “Rev. Joyce Aryee shares her life in Public Service”. It was hosted by Dzifa Bampoh of Media General
Profile
Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee is currently the Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries. She was a Minister of state from 1985 till 2001 serving in various capacities as Minister for Education, and Information. She is also the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the first woman to head an African Chamber of Mines. She draws her experience from over 40 years of service to the nation, dealing with a wide range of issues including education, environmental protection and public relations.
Rev. Joyce Aryee was awarded Companion of the Order of the Volta, Ghana (CV) by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana in 2006. She is also a recipient of the CIMG Marketing Woman of the year 2007 Award.
She also received the Inspirational Woman Award at the Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards 2015 for creating change, paving the way for women as well as being the first female to head an African Chamber of Mines. She received an award as the Public Relations Personality of the Year 2014 by the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Ghana. She has been named in the list of 100 Global Inspiration Women in Mining in the world.
