Handover, trust and productivity
By Henry Atta Nyame Two recent incidents in Ghana have reminded me of the importance of something that can easily be dismissed as routine administrative work: handover. A recent issue involving Ghanaian students on government scholarships in the United Kingdom raised questions about the management of scholarship funds and payments to students. Ghana’s High Commissioner […]
In Ghana, recent occurrences have underscored the significance of an often overlooked administrative task: handover. The case of Ghanaian students studying on scholarships in the United Kingdom brought attention to the management of scholarship funds and payments, while a viral video from Amenfi West Municipality showcased quarreling education officers over handover matters. These incidents highlight a broader organizational issue: the transfer of information when responsibility changes hands.
My initial experience with handover occurred during my time in primary school, where there was a formal ceremony to transfer responsibilities to incoming prefects. This simple yet effective practice seemed to be lacking in many workplaces in Ghana. When employees leave positions without adequately transferring knowledge, responsibilities, and resources, the consequences can be far-reaching.
Without proper handover, the departing employee's work may disappear, leading to confusion, delays, disagreements, and potentially compromising patient safety in healthcare settings.
According to research by Poddar (2014), handover involves the formal transfer of job knowledge, responsibilities, and resources from one employee to another. A colleague shared a story of an employee who abruptly left an organization without notice, causing management to scramble for missing information. In healthcare, effective handover is crucial for continuity of care. A study conducted in two referral hospitals in Ghana found that communication gaps in handover were often due to the absence of formal procedures.
The importance of handover extends beyond healthcare. In any organization, neglecting handover can result in wasted time, lost productivity, and weakened trust between employees. It is essential to treat handover as a regular part of working life, not just a final task before an employee departs. Encouraging knowledge sharing, maintaining accurate records, and documenting essential processes can help protect institutional knowledge and ensure a smooth transition when employees change roles or organizations.
Neglecting handover comes at a cost. Time is lost searching for information, reconstructing records, and attempting to understand unfinished work. It is high time for workplaces in Ghana to recognize the value of handover as a tool for safeguarding institutional knowledge, fostering trust, ensuring accountability, and enhancing productivity. When an employee leaves, their work should not vanish with them.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
