Asantehene urges GIMPA to develop ethical leaders
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to strengthen its role in developing ethical leaders and improving public sector efficiency through digital transformation. He said the institution must go beyond training people to occupy leadership positions and equip them with the skills to address governance … The post…
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, called upon the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to enhance its role in cultivating ethical leaders and enhancing public sector efficiency through digital transformation. He emphasized that while GIMPA had made substantial contributions to Ghana's development over the past 65 years, it needed to adapt to evolving needs and emerging technologies to stay relevant.
The Asantehene stressed that digital transformation should extend beyond merely acquiring computers and creating websites; it should result in improved service delivery, accountability, and efficient decision-making. He cautioned that merely transferring outdated procedures to digital platforms would not resolve underlying issues.
Instead, GIMPA should assist Ghana in establishing a public service where citizens could access essential services without excessive travel, repeated applications, or unnecessary delays. Furthermore, Otumfuo urged the institute to prioritize responsible artificial intelligence and digital governance within its teaching and research.
He acknowledged the potential of emerging technologies in various sectors but highlighted concerns about privacy, fairness, accountability, and human dignity. The Asantehene emphasized the importance of ensuring that digital transformation did not exacerbate disparities between urban and rural communities, stressing that those without smartphones or internet access should still have access to crucial public services.
He stressed that digital development must be backed by investments in infrastructure, education, and accessible services. Otumfuo asserted that an educational institution's true measure was not the number of certificates it awarded but the positive impact its graduates made on society. The GIMPA Rector, Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, announced plans to establish a digital governance and public sector innovation hub within the proposed Ghana-China Centre for West African Studies.
This center would concentrate on e-government, artificial intelligence applications, and data systems to boost public sector performance. Bonsu also reported GIMPA's financial recovery from the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including transitioning to a paperless system and investing in staff development and institutional sustainability.
However, he expressed concern about the politicization of universities, warning that GIMPA risked losing its independence if it aligned itself with political interests.
Written by urgent.news from Ghanaian Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
