Freetown — Administrative manager of statistics Sierra Leone said most public institutions remain inherently dysfunctional and therefore reluctant to change.

Speaking at the monthly management express forum organized by British council and standard charted bank Ahmed S. Kanu said the challenges in introducing change in the public sector were many.

He added that "resistance and reluctance to adapt to change appear to be a common reaction among personnel within public institutions." "Where was SIERRATEL when Celtel and subsequently other mobile companies entered and survived in the Sierra Leone market? How flexible is Sierra Leone commercial bank to compete with the emerging banks with respect to the provision of product portfolios that promote commerce and industry in Sierra Leone," he asked.

He said there was definitely an urgent need to change the status quo and re-engineer public institutions in Sierra Leone, noting that wholesale importation of policies and programmes would not bring about the much needed change.

"Participatory approach based on best practice is the roadmap for effective change. The alienation and exploitation of intermediate and junior staff will not help," he said.

Guest speaker Llewllyn Olawale Williams said public sector transcends the civil service, noting that it comprises institutions that give meaning to the government.

"The growth of any institution depends on its ability to effect change. In Sierra Leone, process and peoples' change is relevant. 89% of the civil service workforce is in the minor grades," he said.

The management express forum is being organized monthly and sponsored by standard charted bank.

The rationale behind the forum was to equip managers and other public workers.