Minister urges new GIMPA Board to protect university's land
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has charged the new board of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to protect the land and integrity of the institution for its successful administration.
The minister's charge comes on the back of some families threatening to claim ownership of the land on which GIMPA is situated, demanding compensation.
Mr Iddrisu was speaking at the swearing-in of the new GIMPA Governing Council at the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Accra last Tuesday.
New board members
The newly constituted 11-member governing council is chaired by Professor Yaw Agyeman Badu, with other members as the Head of the Civil Service, Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh; the Director-General of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), Prof. Ahmed Jinapor; the Executive Chairman of the State Interest and Governance Authority, Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte; the Rector of GIMPA, Prof. Samuel Kwesi Bonsu.
The rest are Rockson Kwesi Dogbegah, Osei Tutu Agyeman, Dr Gamel O. Wiredu, Prof. Felix Kofi Abagale and Dr Amina Jangu Alhassan.
The minister emphasised the importance of securing the university's integrity and ensuring its continued success, particularly in the face of challenges.
He underscored the importance of resolving the issue and ensuring the university's continued stability and success.
Commendation
Mr Iddrisu commended GIMPA for its remarkable achievements, including its niche area of governance and training of persons in governance and public administration.
The minister highlighted GIMPA's ability to operate without dependence on the state, having sustained itself for 64 years by paying its lecturers and exploring innovative ways to finance higher education.
He urged the board to build on that success and ensure that university training responded to the employability question, making graduates more competitive in the 21st Century.
Mr Iddrisu assured the council that the government remained committed to making education accessible, including university education, and encouraged GIMPA to explore new areas of training and make its educational opportunities more accessible to marginalised groups.
The minister acknowledged the trust the President had in the Chair of Council, Professor Iyadjuma, and expressed confidence in the board's ability to lead GIMPA to greater heights.
New direction
For his part, the newly appointed Chairman of GIMPA Council, Prof. Agyeman Badu, expressed gratitude to President John Mahama and the Minister of Education for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the institution and the opportunity to serve the nation.
Prof. Badu acknowledged the President's trust in the council and gave an assurance that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He expressed his commitment to taking GIMPA to the next level and pledged to work diligently with the other members to transform GIMPA.
Prof. Badu also emphasised the council's commitment to building capacity for nation-building, guiding GIMPA to continue making significant contributions to Ghana's development.
