17 Human resource practitioners awarded fellowship status

The recent termination, appointments and transfers of Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of public institutions have not been handled professionally, the Chairman of the Fellows Status Committee of the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners (IHRMP), Mr John Mbroh, had said.

He said for instance that most of the former CEOs were not given the opportunity to explain themselves over allegations levelled against them before their appointments were terminated, which was against the rule of natural justice.

Mr Mbroh said this at an elevation to fellowship ceremony organised by the IHRMP in Accra yesterday.

Seventeen human resource practitioners were awarded fellowship status while three persons were given honorary fellowships.

Rule of Law

Mr Mbroh said the current political dispensation emphasised the rule of law and, therefore, nothing should be done to violate the rights of others.

He stated for instance that "if a staff member is caught pilfering or stealing, you just do not sack the person, but rather the person has to go through the disciplinary process outlined in the collective agreement”.

He stressed that performance of staff should be monitored and evaluated on a continuous basis to ensure that “they deliver on set targets”.

Code of ethics

Emphasising the need for human resource practitioners to practise the code of ethics of their profession, the President of the IHRMP, Mr John Wilson, said the ethics ensured discipline among practitioners.

He commended the new fellows for the recognition and urged them to help build a strong brand of HR practitioners.

“Indeed, this status imposes extra responsibility on the recipients to be true ambassadors of the Institute and HR best practices,” he said.

He pointed out that it had become very relevant in the development of the country to project excellence and commitment.

Mr Wilson urged professional institutions and universities to collaborate to strengthen professional training.

He underscored the need for practitioners to continue to research, learn and develop as well as apply modern theory and practices in HR, with particular reference to the new HR Operating Model.

“Value addition HR practice requires the possession of professional HR knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes, which come only with professional training,” he stated.

Advice

One of the newly elevated fellows, Mr Austin Gamey, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, expressed appreciation for the recognition.

He noted that the human resource department “is the fulcrum around which everything in the organisation evolves,” and added that HR managers and technical advisers to CEOs must be gentle, honest, open, specific on all matters and must talk to all staff proactively.