GIMPA holds fourth congregation

Accra, May 26, GNA- The Ghana Trade Union Congress and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union have been urged to embrace and encourage workers to acquire multi-skills that would make them useful at their work places to enhance productivity.

Mr Charles Cofie, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, who made the call, said to achieve improvement in productivity levels it was necessary that workers moved from the narrow confines of job description to one of flexibility and multi-task performance. "It is important that the unionized work force become versatile to perform multi-task job description in order to survive in the competitive environment," he said.

Mr Cofie was speaking at the fourth Congregation of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration on Saturday during which various Masters degrees in Business Administration, Governance, Leadership and Public Management was conferred on students. He said the country would be able to make it only if Ghanaians take the bold step to improve productivity.

Mr Cofie urged the graduands, most of who were in management positions, to help in efforts aimed at national productivity improvement since it was the only way the country could accelerate socio-economic development.

As leaders, he said, it was important they avoid the pitfall of ill-treating their subordinates, adding that unconditional support and trust of all was needed in fulfilling the task and meeting goals set by organizations.

"Rather, you must inspire innovation, decide direction, foster learning and fulfill confidence attributes necessary for success as a leader," Mr. Cofie said.

Professor Stephen Adei, Rector of GIMPA, reiterated the Institute's commitment to training of staff of the Civil Service, saying that other developments had not undermined efforts in that area. He appealed for support to enable GIMPA to enhance its infrastructure, especially build amphitheatrical classrooms and accommodation for students.

Prof. Adei asked the graduands to be part of the moral minority who were destined to transform the country in to a prosperous and corruption free nation.

"Let us aim at not being filthy rich or successful in terms of personal achievement, but let us aim at a life of significance so when we are gone everyone will notice that we have been here and served God in our generation," he said.

Dr E.H. Boohene, Chairman GIMPA, said although GIMPA was still in its transformation stages, it was committed to its mission to provide capacity building opportunities for middle and senior management people. He called on graduands not to be self-seeking as leaders but to take decisions that would improve the well-being of their subordinates. 26 May 07