Managing Public Sector Records in Ghana: A Survey of Selected Ministries
dc.contributor.author | Adanuvor, D. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2021-10-29T10:51:35Z | |
dc.date.available | 2021-10-29T10:51:35Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2020-10 | |
dc.description | MPhil. Information Studies | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | Records are vital in every organization. Efficient records management enhances transparency, accountability and efficient service delivery. The study investigated the management of public sector records in some selected ministries in Ghana. The study focused on professional and subprofessional records officers specifically in fourteen ministries. The professional class are records personnel with educational qualification from degree to post graduate while the subprofessional class are officers with diploma, West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Ordinary and Advanced level holders. The ministries included Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MOFARI), Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Works and Housing, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The study was based on the following objectives; to assess the role of records management policies and strategies in the managing records in the ministries, to assess the processes that were employed to make public records accessible, to find out methods used to preserve records in the ministries, to ascertain the skills of those in charge of the management of records, to identify barriers associated with the management of records, to make recommendations based on the findings of the study. A survey research design was used to carry out the study. A total of 120 participants was used for the study. A total of 120 copies of questionnaires were administered proportionally and 100 were successfully retrieved. The Study was guided by the modified records life cycle process. The findings revealed that ministries in Ghana did not have records management policies that regulated their activities, thus placing the direction of records management under the control of the Administration. Under the strategies used in managing records, the study revealed the classification systems used for records, the categories of records kept, the format of records and storage conditions for records. Also, the study revealed that most ministries did not have a written disaster management plan to follow in dealing with disasters, but they periodically fumigated their records offices to prevent the infestation of documents as a form of preservation and also had adequate space to keep records. Steel drawers, wooden cabinets and metal shelves were used for keeping records. Further, the study revealed that most records staff had no formal training in records or archives management. Training received was in the form of on-the-job training, workshops and seminars. Training needs of the records staff identified included management of electronic records. However, effective records management revealed through the study was beset with many barriers including budget constraints, lack of infrastructure, lack of skilled records staff, resistance to change, and lack of management support. To improve good records management practices that will ensure good standards and service delivery, the study has made some recommendations. With regards to ensuring good standards and practices, the ministries should liaise with PRAAD to develop a records management policy as well as a procedure manual to outline the procedures and practices for managing records throughout their life cycle. The ministries should liaise with PRAAD and the Civil Service Training Centre to organize training programmes for records staff. The study recommends that management should fully support the work of records staff with adequate funds to perform their functions effectively. | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/36973 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | University of Ghana | en_US |
dc.subject | Ghana | en_US |
dc.subject | West African Senior School Certificate Examination | en_US |
dc.subject | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration | en_US |
dc.subject | Records | en_US |
dc.title | Managing Public Sector Records in Ghana: A Survey of Selected Ministries | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
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