CHAPTER 3 72. Weaknesses in the lines of communication and flow of information among the ministries, departments and public sector agencies prevent them from attaining their full potential for effectiveness, given their current capacity. The example was given of the flow of information between the Bank of Ghana, the Ministry of Finance, and the Controller and Accountant-General's Department. Monitoring and evaluation units of ministries, departments and agencies also often appear weak in the light of the evidence available to the public. 73. Public sector personnel acknowledge that there is room for improvement. They point out that a sound legal basis exists to enable a high degree of effectiveness and transparency in the public sector while further enhancements are planned. Examples, similar to those contained in the CSAR, were cited of steps taken in recent years to augment effectiveness and transparency in the public sector. They agree that the civil service may be rather resistant to change and that implementation of existing rules and laws could be more effective. 74. Article 35, paragraph 6(d) of the Directive Principles of State Policy of the 1992 Constitution enjoins the state “to take appropriate measures to afford all possible opportunities to the people to participate in decision-making at every level in national life and government.” Also, Article 34, paragraph 2 of the 1992 Constitution under the Directive Principles of State Policy states that the “President shall report to Parliament at least once a year the steps taken to ensure the realisation of the policy objectives … in particular the realisation of basic human rights, a healthy economy, the right to work, the right to good health care and the right to education.” 75. At a less fundamental level, recent actions in the legal arena to improve effectiveness and transparency have included the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584); Internal Audit Service Act, 2003 (Act 6580); Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663); and Financial Administration Act, 2003 (Act 654). If implemented, these legal initiatives should further improve effectiveness and transparency in public administration and the fiscal area. 76. Representatives of the authorities contended that a sound legal basis exists for facilitating a high level of collaboration among subnational authorities and government departments in implementing economic policies and programmes. The basic legislation is the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462). For instance, it permits District Assemblies to appoint a joint committee for any project in which they are jointly interested. The Act explains the nature of the supervisory relationship between the 68