The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Ghana’s fastest growing public university has appointed Hon. Dr. Albert Kan-Dapaah as Director for its new Centre for Public Accountability.

The Centre’s primary objective is to conduct thorough study and research into public sector accountability issues and develop time-tested recommendations for reforms to promote public accountability and transparency in the Ghanaian and African public sector, as well as the quality of public service outcomes.

The Centre, which is the second of three of such Centres of Excellence being established by the UPSA aims to become the leading tertiary-based think-tank in the provision of quality and relevant training, research and consultancy support to promote Public Sector Accountability in Africa.

The Centre will conduct cutting-edge research into public sector accountability issues, build the capacity of public sector officials and lawmakers through highly interactive training programmes and consultancy support.

Explaining the rationale behind the appointment of Dr. Kan-Dapaah as the head of the Centre, the Vice-Chancellor of the UPSA, Profession Joshua Alabi remarked: “He is one of the best qualified and most experienced candidate for this role. He is not only an astute politician who understands the intricacies of the financial decision-making process in the public sector, he is also a former Minister for four critical ministries - Energy, Communication, Interior and Defense. Dr. Kan-Dapaah is also a former Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, which scrutinizes how ministries, departments, and agencies have spent public money. There is no doubt, Dr. Kan-Dapaah thoroughly understands our vision for the Centre and fully identifies with it. We believe he will lead the transformative process to improve the quality of public sector management.”

In a brief comment after accepting his appointment, Dr. Kan-Dapaah said: “I am delighted for the honour and the opportunity to serve my alma mater. This is the institution which made me who I am today and I am committed to contributing my quota to making it a globally recognized university. I am happy, and I am looking forward to an exciting experience in the years ahead.”

Hon. Dr. Kan-Dapaah is a former student of the UPSA where he studied for his professional qualification as a Chartered Accountant. Before his full-time political career, Dr. Kan-Dapaah had a successful career as a Chartered Accountant and worked with Pannel Kerr Forster, an international firm of Chartered Accountants as Audit Senior in their offices in Accra and London, and as Resident Partner in Monrovia, Liberia between 1978 and 1986. He joined the Electricity Corporation of Ghana in September 1987 where he rose from Director of Audit to become Director for Finance, a position he held for six years.

After his successful career in politics, Dr. Kan-Dapaah returned to the UPSA as an adjunct lecturer in Auditing at the graduate level. The University awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters last year for his contributions to academic excellence in the country.