A Risk Management Training Session Held for Heads of Units

Participants at the Training Session

On 11th January 2018 at the Great Hall, over 110 Directors and Heads of Departments came together for a training session on Risk Management, organised by the Registrar’s Office in collaboration with the Internal Audit Unit of the University of Ghana.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, spoke on the topic “Development of a Risk Management Framework,” stating the definition of risk and correcting the mistaken belief that risk is always negative. He explained that managing risk is essential for good corporate governance, as risk can be either danger or opportunity. Using the University of Ghana as an example, he showed the need to monitor and manage risks in order to eliminate negativities and uncertainties, and also build risk awareness strategies and structures at all levels of management in order to realize the University’s Strategic Plan.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Students Affairs, Prof. Kwame Offei, also spoke on the topic, Risk or Threats Associated with Academic Delivery. He classified academic risks under six major categories, namely, enrollment, teaching, student learning experiences, technology, infrastructure and reputation. He emphasized that each of these categories affects not only students but also staff of the University. He admonished heads of units to be innovative in each area of risk in order to improve the image of the University, especially internationally.

Prof. Francis Dodoo, the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, encouraged his colleagues to make the needs of students their priority, as these students will one day contribute to the Endowment Fund of the University. He also spoke on the topic “Research Grant Risks,” and explained key principles relating to grants awarded to the University for individual research and for overheads.  His main concern was about reputational risk, which involves honoring contact of grants. He advised the heads of units on the need to be accountable for the expenditure of grants so as not to tarnish the image and reputation of the university and donors.

Prof. Dodoo hinted that there is an ongoing restructuring of the Office for Research, Innovation and Development, in order to add a third satellite office at the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research to existing ones at the College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

The Director for Internal Audit of the University, Dr. Ibrahim Bedi, took heads of units through practical steps in developing risk registers, channels and procedures of risk policy implementation, and ways of being proactive on risk management issues. He challenged participants to take responsibility and charged unit heads to treat the University with the care usually given to private institutions, even though the University belongs to the public sector.

Director for Internal Audit of the University of Ghana, Dr. Ibrahim Bedi