By Raine Golegio, Monrovia
It is obvious that elections are over in Liberia and there is a need for the rebuilding process of the country, void of political differences in keeping with the newly elected President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision.
This indicates that his appointed officials are to follow suit in order to unite citizens following months of consistent political activities in 2023, which may have divided many government ministries and agencies with the Civil Service Agency (CSA) which manages government employees being no exception.
From this backdrop, this is why the newly confirmed Deputy Director General for Human Resource Management and Policies at the Civil Service Agency, Darlington Smith has vowed to depoliticize the institution in an effort to support the agenda of the new Liberian head of state.
Speaking at his induction ceremony which was held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia recently, he asserted that the CSA was highly politicized during the regime of Ex-President, George Weah, something he said undermined the professional standards of the institution.
Darlington Smith urged employees of the entity to remain professional in exercising their duties and responsibilities and refrain from politics as the institution gears toward moving on a merit basis void of political sentiments.
Mr. Smith is also multitasking as Deputy Director General for Human Resource Management and Policies and Acting Director General of the entity based on his ten years experience working in the agency pending the confirmation by the Liberia Senate of his immediate boss, Josiah Joekai.
He previously served as Director for Project Planning prior to his appointment as Deputy Director General for Human Resource Management and Policies by the president and assured to use such experience to massively improve performance management in the Liberian civil service.
He further indicated the need for capacity building of civil servants through strategic training sessions by the arm of the career management division of the CSA and encouraged civil servants to take advantage of the pending opportunity.
At the same time, Deputy Director General, Darlington Smith assured strategic plans on the way for timely payment of salaries for government employees in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning pending the confirmation of his boss by the Liberian senate.
For his part, former Civil Service Agency Director General, James Thompson at the induction ceremony embraced the appointment of Darlington Smith by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai as a way of giving Civil Servants the space to serve in appointed positions in government.
He further called on employees of the entity to cooperate with the new management in delivering the Liberian people.
