UPSA holds workshop for traditional rulers

The Otumfuo Centre for Traditional Leadership (OCTL) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) is holding a five-day training workshop in Accra for 60 paramount and divisional chiefs.

The participants would be educated in the areas of Land Administration and Management, Conflict Resolution and Gender issues.

The OCTL, which is one of the four Centres of Excellence, was established by the UPSA, to spearhead the development and modernisation of the chieftaincy institution.

The first batch of participants to be trained by OCTL graduated in May, 2015.

Professor Joshua Alabi, the Vice Chancellor of the UPSA, in his remarks at the opening ceremony, said the University's programmes had been tailored in such a way as to meet the needs of society.

He said UPSA Management’s vision was to create a world-class higher educational institution that is nationally entrenched, regionally relevant and globally recognised.

He said at the moment, the UPSA was the only university offering a study programme in Quality Control on the African continent; stating that in Ghana, the UPSA was the only University offering a programme in Auditing.

He said for the 2016/2017 Academic Year, the University would be starting two new programmes - Law and Actuarial Science.

Prof Alabi announced that Prof Abenego Okoe Feehi Amartey, the UPSA Pro-Vice Chancellor, would be taking over from him as the Vice Chancellor, when his tenure expired on December 31.

He said Prof Amartey would continue to build from where he had left off, and would consolidate and improve upon the gains achieved so far.

Lepowura Alhaji Mohammed Nuru-Deen Jawula, the Consulting Director of the OCTL, appealed to the UPSA Management to introduce a postgraduate study programme in Chieftaincy Affairs.

He expressed gratitude to the Local Government Service for sponsoring the workshop with GHC 60,000.

Prof Amartey hailed Prof Alabi for his exemplary role in transforming the UPSA into a world- class university.

Nii Ayi Kpotia I of Ngleshie Alata, urged his colleague traditional rulers to champion the development agenda of their jurisdictions.

Mt Justice Stephen Alan Brobbey, a retired justice of the Supreme Court Judge, who chaired the function, said the knowledge that would be gained by the traditional rulers would improve their leadership skills.