AUCC launches the Sir Sam Jonah School of Business

Upon recommendation of the Founder and Executive Chairman, the Governing Council of the African University College of Communications (AUCC) has named the University’s Business School after former president of AngloGold Ashanti and Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, Sir Sam E. Jonah. The official launch took place during a ceremony at Discovery House on the AUCC campus in Accra on June 27, 2013.

Welcoming the guests at the launch, Acting President of AUCC Prof. Kofi Asare Opoku said in the Ghanaian culture, names are not given simply for the sake of giving names. “We give names of eminently deserving people to individuals or institutions only after careful and weighty consideration for, we believe that names have unquestioned influence on the character of their bearers.”

Sir Samuel’s irreproachable and colossal achievement, Prof. Opoku continued, had prompted the institution’s leaders to choose him for this honour. Prof. Opoku stated that he was optimistic that products of the School “were going to scale unimaginable heights to the eternal glory of our motherland Ghana.”

Chair of AUCC’s Governing Council Prof S.K.B. Asante shared in his remarks that the University was inspired by Sir Samuel’s enviable stature, adding that he was convinced that the new 2013 – 2017 Strategic Plan of AUCC will confidently position the University to focus on its mission, elevate its status, and acquire its own charter to become a Centre of Excellence in the major fields of communication and business studies.

In her remarks, the Acting Dean of the Sam Jonah School of Business, Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright said she and her team were poised to redefine the concept of a business school and the business graduate by implementing three strategies — the implementation of significant academic changes through rewriting and restructuring the School’s curriculum, refocusing the Executive Education programme to ensure participants actually make an impact in their work places, and the development of unique programmes to augment the classroom experience of the students. One of the new programmes she mentioned was a major in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management - a rare combination offered by only 190 universities globally.

Hon. Kojo Yankah, Founder and Executive Chairman of AUCC, in his address said education should be built on the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurhip and moral leadership among students, adding that AUCC needed a role model with creativity, courage and fortitude to spearhead it to its highest level. “The University needs an individual with an unbeatable drive and a transformational leader with the capacity to affect other people and all these values were found in Sir Sam Jonah, who has impacted massively on the global business community.”

In his acceptance speech, Sir Samuel expressed satisfaction to AUCC for the honour bestowed on him and stated that he was going to work to uplift the image of the Business School to a higher standard. The world, he reflected, was currently going through difficult times with unprecedented political and economic challenges and explained that this was due to bad leadership and lack of good governance at all levels of the society.

“A typical graduate of the AUCC Jonah Business School must embody certain values. They must be entrepreneurial yet compassionate, ethical, with integrity, have a clear vision of what is best for the individual and also the general good, able to draw a balance between short –term decision making and long-term value, possess emotional intelligence, empathy, appropriate communication and presentation skills, respect for all, and a sense of community. They must be thought leaders who will shape society.”

During the ceremony, Sir Samuel was presented with an AUCC branded traditional stool. Additionally, a bust of Sir Samuel sculpted by celebrated Ghanaian artist and sculptor, Francis Kwatei Nee-Owoo, was later unveiled at the entrance of the School. A replica of the bronze bust, as well as a citation, were also presented to Sir Samuel.

The Sam E. Jonah School of Business is affiliated with the University of Ghana, Legon for the award of its four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Business Studies. Programme options currently at the School include Accounting, Banking and Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, and a combined ACCA/Accounting degree.

by Barbara Gyamfi, Director, Corporate Communications, AUCC bgyamfi@aucc.edu.gh