Management of Komenda College of Education in consultation with Methodist University College Ghana (MUCG), organized a three-day staff development workshop for 66 staff, comprising 58 teaching and 8 non-teaching staff of Komenda College of Education. The participants arrived on Wednesday 26th May, at MUCG, Dansoman-Accra at 1:30pm and participated in this workshop through to Friday 28th May, 2021.
The workshop was organized intending to help build change-capable-leaders with demonstrative competencies in contemporary research, nurturing/coaching talents, managing people, processes and resources and lending the necessary courtesies as would be required of the 21st century Tutor and Administrator.
The workshop was officially opened at 3:00pm with a welcome statement by Prof. Ato Essuman on behalf of Prof. A. Asabere-Ameyaw, the President, Methodist University College Ghana (MUCG). He commended Management for partnering MUCG in organizing this worthwhile workshop to the benefit of expanding the knowledge base of staff for an improved performance and ultimately enhancing the corporate profile of ‘KOMENCO’. He urged all participants to capitalize fully on the presentations and practical sessions.
The Principal, Very Rev. Dr. Kwesi Nkum Wilson on behalf of Management extended the necessary pleasantries to all present. He mentioned that regardless of an employee’s place in ‘KOMENCO’s hierarchy, Management makes demand of each staff to lead a successful change towards the College’s vision of setting the pace for excellence in teacher education in Ghana by 2030; thus, the workshop. He entreated participants to actively engage and get the full benefit from this workshop. Finally, he wished all participants a good stay and fruitful workshop.
Grounded on research and best operational practices, participants were engaged on the following:
With particular reference to Understanding the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and Public Financial Management Regulations, 2019 (L.I. 2378), the facilitator, Mr. Paul Ampadu engaged participants on the Responsibilities and Roles for Public Financial Management, Macroeconomic and Fiscal Policies, Budget Preparation, Approval and Management, Cash and Asset Management, Public Debt Management, Accounts and Audit, Miscellaneous Provisions, Offences and penalties, Surcharge and Penalty for contravention of the Act.
The lessons taken in this session was based on the principle that effective implementation of the PFM Act 921 covers a set of broader financial management functions to include policy designs at the beginning and ending with external audit and evaluation.
Against this information, was the caution to all actors (any public officer responsible for receiving, using, or managing the College’s funds) to as a matter of urgency, maintain the required aggregate of fiscal discipline by ensuring that public resources are allocated to agreed strategic priorities or otherwise apply for virement through the GIFMIS, and put in place the needed checks and balances to generally ensure transparency and accountability.
Under the facilitation of Mr. Robert M. Bennin on Change Leadership, participants appreciated that in contemporary times, change-leadership demands of each team player within the institution to accept that change is a personal initiative.
In proactive response to this transformation efforts came a call to an all-hands-on-deck engagements out of which came the agreement that leadership of change efforts cannot rest solely with Management. Therefore, participants were entreated to’ Be the Change they want to see in KOMENCO’ as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi.
This session was characterized with purposeful Strategic Planning process interactions amongst participants. The outcome of this exercise was to identify the key challenges of Management, Staff and Students and produce ‘SMART’ action plans to move Komenda College of Education in a strategic direction, to accomplish her outlined mission and vision. The facilitator, Mr. Robert M. Bennin implored each team member to adapt thoughtful and tactful strategies to ensure a successful day-to-day implementation of the College’s strategic plans.
The task of building ‘KOMENCOs’ projects can be advanced by developing a ‘winning’ grants proposal, following that grant’s guidelines and use of exact section headings provided by the call for proposals. Otherwise, an Executive Summary, Needs Statement, Description of Projects, Budget, Cover Letter and Organizational Descriptions should be highlighted as elements of the proposal, as recommended by Dr. Mensah Brown.
On Conducting Action Research and choosing the appropriate Research Designs, Prof. Asare Amoah and Prof. Sally Essuman, sought to improve the research skills of Tutors by means of addressing practical challenges that may arise in the College or Ghana’s Educational System at large for better results.
Delivering on Nurturing Talents and Coaching, Robert M. Bennin reiterated that Komenda College of Education, exists to offer outstanding services by enhancing talents of stakeholders. Therefore, rather than just pushing team players to attainable limits, it is critical for Management to be open to ideas, ask for opinions, create a culture of team feedback and continue to encourage desired behaviours by reinforcing values to perfect our services.
In applying the approved management principles to the financial resources of KOMENCO, Mr. Paul Ampadu, in his presentation on Budgeting and Financial Management advocated that the PFM Laws must be applied to foster efficiency and transparency in the use of the public purse. As a prerequisite for effective financial management systems, KOMENCOs’ budget should represent a comprehensive annual monetary plan that encompasses carefully planned expenditures within the mandate of the College.
The Research Leadership was presented by Prof. Ato Essuman in furtherance to Staff’s research leadership and publication profile. Management is to offer strategic direction, allocate resources, set ethical standards and processes and nurture developmental opportunities for Staff to support their success in research leadership roles.
Managing Academic Units by Prof. A. Asabere-Ameyaw: during this session, discussions centered mainly on the provision of visionary academic research and administrative leadership to promote the goals of the Departments. Deans and Heads of Departments (HODs) were reminded of their responsibility in efficiently and effectively managing Students’ Affairs, Academic Staff Affairs, Finances and Resources, Faculty Governance, Instructions, External Communication among others.
As the discussions on Quality Assurance in Higher Education (HE) by Prof. M. Amedeker unfolded, there was a consensus for all academic programmes to be designed in coherence with the mission and vision of KOMENCO, whilst we consider and take on all significant developments that impacts excellent service delivery in achieving quality education standards.
Essentially, Higher Education Governance operates a bicameral system of authority with a shared responsibility between the Governing Council and the Academic Board. Solidifying these structures to man the College’s administrative capacity and machinery is a proven catalyst to the success of higher educational governance and leadership, according to Prof A. Asabere-Ameyaw.
One core lesson taken from Prof. Ato Essuman’s Preparing CVs for Promotion was the need to strategically tailor each Curriculum Vitae to reflect emphasis on sections (Academic/Professional Qualifications, Community Service, Conferences Attended, Shadowing Experiences, Inventions/ Patents, Leadership, Technical Skills, Volunteer Experience) that are most relevant and favourable to the job or promotion opening.
As regards the implementation of the Public Procurement Act 663, which aims at ensuring that public procurement is carried out in a Fair, Transparent and Non–Discriminatory, Environmentally and Socially Sustainable manner, all COE including KOMENCO are to apply the state’s resources in a judicious, economic and efficient way, Mr. Emmanuel Fianko advised.
Innovation is critical to the continuing success of KOMENCO. It is thus worthy of note that an effective and successful innovation should aim at leadership and a standard setter that determines the direction of a new technology within our educational enterprise and stimulate the enabling mechanisms for making change happen. This information was derived from interactions with Dr Mensah-Brown on Leading and Managing Innovation in Higher Education.
At the end of the workshop a snap evaluation survey conducted by Dr. Susan Berdie revealed that the sessions were useful in expanding collaboration and mutual learning. Prof. A. Asabere-Ameyaw, the President MUCG in closing expressed his pleasure as a host of the workshop and concluded that the purpose of the workshop by no doubt had been achieved. Further, Prof. Ato Essuman in excitement commended all participants assuring Management of creating special opportunities for the professional development of staff of KOMENCO.
The Principal, Very Rev. Dr. Kwesi Nkum Wilson expressed his thanks to the organizers of the workshop and assured them of a long-lasting professional development partnership whiles he called on staff to initiate and be the change they wish to see in KOMENCO. He also remained thankful to his Management and Staff for their audience.
Report by: Ms. Constance Afriyie (College Secretary) and Ms. Genevieve Esinam Akuamoah (Assistant College Secretary)
