Ghana’s UK Mission Set To Develop A Skills Data Bank

... Of Ghanaian Professionals In The Diaspora The Ghana High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo has set up a Taskforce to develop a Skills Data Bank to capture the profile of Ghanaian professionals in the United Kingdom.

The aim of the project is to develop a complete working register of all Ghanaian professionals resident in the UK to enable the Government and the private sector to tap into the skills of those suitable professionals in the Diaspora when the need arises.

The Taskforce charged to take forward the development of the skills project was recently inaugurated by His Excellency at the Ghana High Commission offices at Belgrave Square in South West London.

Prof. Danso-Boafo asked the Taskforce to develop its own terms of reference and the modalities necessary for the Committee to carry out its mandate. He advised the Committee not to re invent the wheel since previous Heads of the Mission had started similar projects but stalled when the Heads moved on.

H.E. therefore asked the Committee to use due diligence and work within the parameters of acceptable data protection laws to develop a comprehensive working register capable of capturing all Ghanaian professionals, including students who have completed their professional courses in the UK.

H.E. provided a broad framework of requirements to guide the Committee in its work. He said information collated should be broadly categorized under the following headings; qualifications, interests, willingness to assist development efforts in Ghana, willingness to offer partial or remote engagement and willingness to relocate to Ghana. He however, stressed that the Committee should endeavor to expand these where they find it appropriate.

He said the development of the Skills Data Bank was of particular importance to the Mission and the government of Ghana because of the large number of Ghanaian professionals resident in the UK. He reminded the task force of the government’s determination to recruit Ghanaian professionals from all spheres of life to help manage the potential revenue that would accrue from recent oil discovery in the country. He said the development of the oil fields in Ghana would require professionals such as environmentalist, health and safety experts and technicians of all types.

The following members were appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of the Taskforce:

Mensa Kobi-Kuma, Chairman Dr. Lawrence Akwetey, Vice Chairman Merley Okine, Secretary Gifty Tetteh, Legal Expert Hayford Akrofi, Technical Expert Mamme-Yaa Bempa, Treasurer

Other members of the Committee (which will eventually include representatives of Ghanaian political parties in the U.K.) include the following: 1. H.E. Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo, High Commissioner 2. Dr. William Kofie, CPP UK & Ireland 3. Mr. Hayford Atta-Kruffi, NPP UK & Ireland Branch 4. Kwesi Dzirasah, NDC UK & Ireland Branch 5. Mr. Andy Lumor, Universities of Ghana Overseas Office 6. Dr. Daniel Nti, Open University 7. Hajia Hajara Shardow, Ghana Association of Accountants 8. Janet L Yeboah, co-opted 9. Kwame Agyei, co-opted 10. Prof. Nana Owusu-Frimpong, London Metropolitan University 11. Kojo Binffoh, co-opted 12. Joe Ofosu-Appiah, co-opted 13. Bismark Tawiah Akoi, co-opted 14. Kwame Adu, Ghana Union 15. Nana Kwame Opoku-Acheampong, Ghana Nurses Association 16. Dr. Emmanuel Akuffo, Emma Carton Estate

The members of the Taskforce thanked the High Commissioner for the honour in inviting them to serve on the Committee and pledged their support for the project.

Source: Information Section, Ghana High Commission, London 17th May 2010