Management of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) today, March 28, 2022, signed an MoU with the National School of Government (NSG) based in Pretoria, South Africa.

The purpose of the MoU, among other things, was to deepen bilateral relationships between the two institutions.

It further sought to enhance working relations between them through collaborative research initiatives, academic and staff visits and exchange, the hosting of conferences and seminars, and the development of joint grant proposals.

The four-member team from NSG was made up of, Prof. Busani Ngaweni, Principal (Director General), NSG, Ms Faith Nyaka, Chief Director for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Management, NSG, Mr Mzwakhe Lubisi, Counsellor: Economic, South African High Commission and Ms Pumla Nhlelo, Director, AMDIN Africa.

They were joined at the ceremony by the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Ms Lulu Xingwana.

The Deputy Rector of GIMPA, Prof. Martin Morgan Tuuli formally welcomed the team from South Africa after which Dr Patrick Tandoh-Offin briefed the gathering on the aim of the gathering.

Prof. Tandoh indicated that GIMPA and NSG were one of the few Management Development Institute (MDIs) across Africa that had worked tirelessly to support public administration and management training on the continent.

‘These two institutions have also supported the work of the networks of MDIs, the Africa Management Development Institutes Network (AMDIN),’ he added.

According to Dr Tandoh the Rector of GIMPA Prof. Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, in late September 2021 became the first Vice President for the West Africa Region for AMDIN and used that opportunity to express his interest in deepening the bilateral relationship between GIMPA and NSG.

In his remarks the Rector, Prof. Bonsu, further emphasized the need for collaboration between GIMPA and NSG adding ‘There is the need for us to take some responsibility in charting the course for the development of Africa,’ he stressed.

MoU

‘This MoU will help us work together for the betterment of Africa and I believe our gathering here will be a catalyst for better opportunities for both institutions,’ he said.

Prof. Busani Ngaweni, Principal (Director General) NSG said the signing of the MoU was significant because it signified the formalizing of the relationship between GIMPA and NSG.

He urged GIMPA to start thinking of a programme to train politicians from both Ghana and South Africa to help enhance their skills, and make it mandatory for students of the African Governance Programme to, as a minimum requirement, seek further training at either NGS or GIMPA. And lastly, the need to design practice based content that would enable participants who go through the programme to be able to apply the training received.

The South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Ms Lulu Xingwana gave her support for the collaboration saying ‘It is important that we look within ourselves to develop Africa, especially as economic diplomacy is the new norm for the continent now.’