GIMPA holds matriculation

Accra, October 5, GNA- Professor Stephen Adei, Rector, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on Friday said he had remained tight-lipped on issues raised about professorship in recent times because the matter was before court.

He noted that as a professor of leadership of Africa leadership and Management Academy it was unheard of to be asserted in certain quarters that he could not use the title since it was not conferred by GIMPA. Addressing a matriculation ceremony of 1,085 fresh students into the Greenhill Collage of GIMPA in Accra Prof. Adei said the claim by a segment of the press that he was not properly appointed a Rector has been taken to court by the same people and is sub-judice. "But let me assure you that I don't employ myself and that if one has a title not conferred by a Ghanaian institution and so cannot use it, is a matter the court will decide", he added.

The Professor pointed out that responsible leadership and respect of rule of law required that he made no comment on them but was optimistic the court's ruling would clearly set the records straight, especially for people having foreign professorship. He said the fresh students who were mainly undergraduates and few top-up's at the collage was an opportunity to the millions of Ghanaians denied space by traditional universities in the country. Prof Adei indicated that the original plan was to take 300 students by 2007, starting with 100 students for the 2002/2003 academic year, but now "we have 506 in the first year alone, 876 in the second year and 450 in the third year".

"This afternoon, 1,085 freshmen and women will be matriculated, this number includes all fresh admissions this year into first year, second year (HND holders) and special top-up programmes", he added. He observed that students needed more guidance in the area of choice of programmes, adding, "I see that economics, hospitality management, insurance and entrepreneurship do not attract as many candidates as they should."

"Yet these should be the top subjects of choice carrier-wise and for the nation's development", he stated.

Prof Adei said hospitality and tourism was not only the fast growing sector but it was also the programme all participants in the near future were assured of ready employment. He noted that over the years the number of programmes had increased from ten to thirteen, while Business Administration had been dropped and human resource management, insurance and operation management introduced this academic year.

Prof. Adei explained that business administration was dropped because it was not the best preparatory first degree subject and moreover the essence of the programme was covered in others and GIMPA must be unique and not produce unemployable graduates as all new universities were doing. "Some programmes which were originally combined have now been split, namely, accounting and finance and banking and finance have been separated into accounting, finance and banking', he added. He urged the matriculants to take their studies seriously and warned that the institute would not countenance indiscipline, indecency and any form of malpractice would attract summary dismissal.