UG’s Plans to Achieve Global Impact in Full Swing
The University of Ghana's efforts to achieve global impact through innovative research, teaching and learning, driven by technology and centred on people, have gained momentum with the successful completion of the fourth annual Management Retreat.
Held from January 16 to 19, 2025, at the Volta Hotel, Akosombo, the retreat provided an opportunity to evaluate progress and finalise strategies under the University’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan.
The retreat, instituted by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has become a vital platform for promoting collaboration, reviewing achievements and shaping the University's strategic direction.
This year’s session brought together Senior Management, Deans and Directors to assess UG’s milestones in 2024 and set actionable goals aligned with the Strategic Plan, dubbed the "5-4-5."
The plan focuses on five key priorities which are Transformative student experience, Impactful research, Commitment to faculty and staff, Engagement and partnerships and Sustainable resource mobilisation and stewardship.
In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, highlighted the inclusive nature of the University’s Strategic Plan, noting that its successful implementation depends on collective effort. “This plan cannot be implemented by the Vice-Chancellor’s Office or the Registrar’s Office alone,” she stated. “It requires the active participation of every member of the University community.”
Prof. Amfo encouraged faculty, administrative staff and support personnel to align their daily tasks with the plan’s objectives, ensuring that their efforts contribute meaningfully to its success.
Addressing concerns about inclusivity, she announced the development of an online system to enable real-time reporting on activities contributing to the Strategic Plan. “This system will ensure transparency and encourage all of us to stay actively involved in achieving our goals,” she explained.
The Vice-Chancellor further called on the University community to embrace innovation and collaboration, stating, “Let us rally together to make this Strategic Plan a success. It is ours and together, we can bring it to life.”
She also underscored the importance of boosting graduate student enrollment and retention as a critical component of transformative education. “While we have made strides in this area, we recognise the need to do more and strike a better balance between graduate and undergraduate training,” she remarked.
Prof. Amfo called for deliberate efforts to enhance graduate education, describing it as essential for strengthening the University’s academic profile and positioning it as a leader in higher education.
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Gordon Awandare, who chairs the Inter-collegiate Implementation Committee, provided insights into tools designed to streamline the implementation process.
He highlighted two key developments, including an action plan template and an online reporting platform. “The action plan template will guide units in designing measurable steps for achieving the Strategic Plan’s objectives, while the online platform will allow real-time reporting and verification of progress,” Prof. Awandare explained.
He announced the development of a communication strategy to guide the distribution of information on the Strategic Plan. Prof. Awandare also revealed plans for a roadshow to introduce these tools across the University’s colleges and units, explaining the need for widespread awareness and participation. “We intend to engage students as well, ensuring their input is integrated into key performance indicators under the transformative student experience priority,” he noted.
Prof. Awandare commended the collaborative efforts during the retreat, stating, “The input from our colleagues have been instrumental in refining the tools for effective implementation.”
Addressing the implementation processes, the Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, reinforced the message of collective responsibility. Reflecting on insights from the Registry Management Seminar, she noted, “The success of the Strategic Plan lies in our ability to bring our teams along, assign clear responsibilities and set achievable targets together.” She intimated that the plan belongs to all members of the University community, regardless of their roles.
Mrs. Agyei-Mensah also stressed the importance of measurable progress. “We’ve taken time to refine the key performance indicators to ensure they align with our objectives and are easier to track. By doing so, we bring ourselves closer to realising the vision of the Strategic Plan,” she remarked.
She concluded by encouraging leaders to inspire ownership within their teams, stating, “Together, we can make great strides toward transforming the University of Ghana into a model of excellence.”
Ahead of the retreat, the Inter-collegiate Implementation Committee, led by Prof. Awandare, developed a comprehensive plan to consolidate strategies across colleges and units. With a renewed sense of purpose, UG’s leadership is confident that the measures outlined during the retreat will elevate the University’s efforts to achieve global impact through transformative education, impactful research and sustainable development practices.
Following the successful completion of the preliminary and introductory sessions, moderated by the Director of Public Affairs, Dr. (Mrs.) Elizier Taiba Ameyaw-Buronyah, various sessions on key areas were held.
One of the sessions moderated by Prof. Akosua Darkwah, Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies, featured updates on protocols for tracking the implementation of the strategic plan. These updates were delivered by Prof. Awandare and the Director of the Institutional Research and Planning Directorate (IRPD), Prof. John Effah. The session provided an opportunity for participants to delve into the challenges faced and progress made in achieving key performance indicators.
One of the key sessions was led by Mr. Anthony Sarpong from KPMG, who delivered a presentation on Implementing strategic plans effectively. Using industry best practices and tailored recommendations, Mr. Sarpong offered actionable insights to enhance strategic plan execution. This session was facilitated by Prof. Justice Bawole, Dean of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS).
The event featured a panel discussion by the four Provosts; Prof. Sandow Mark Yidana (College of Basic and Applied Sciences), Prof. Alfred Yawson (College of Health Sciences), Prof. Joseph Awetori Yaro (College of Humanities) and Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe (College of Education). The Provosts presented key take-aways from their colleges' strategic and implementation plans, which encompassed their strategic goals, highlighted recent achievements, and proposed solutions to pressing challenges.
This was followed by another panel discussion by Deans and Directors, involving Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Prof. Peter Quartey of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Prof. Elsie E. Kaufmann (School of Engineering Sciences) and Prof. Eric Kwesi Nartey, Dean of the School of Agriculture, representing the Agricultural Research Centers. Both panels were moderated by Prof. Raymond Atuguba, Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law.
Following these discussions, group sessions were held involving Provosts and the Registrar, where colleges and the central administration examined their respective strategic goals and explored ways to streamline efforts toward the University’s broader objectives. The outcomes of these discussions were later presented, with proposed interventions to ensure the fulfillment of strategic objectives.
Another significant session, moderated by Prof. Kwasi Torpey, examined university ranking systems. Prof. Akosua A. A. Adomako Ampofo, a Professor of African & Gender Studies and Chair of UG’s 75th Anniversary Planning Committee, together with Mr. Jacob Zuttah of the Research and Innovation Directorate, led discussions on the methodologies and metrics that shape global university rankings. Participants, led by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Development) Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, engaged in vibrant discussions on strategies to elevate the University of Ghana’s global standing.
Addressing a critical institutional challenge, a session moderated by Prof. David Dodoo-Arhin, Director of the Research and Innovation Directorate, focused on increasing graduate student enrolment and retention. During this session, Prof. Awandare and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Prof. Robert Darko Osei, outlined current trends and strategic interventions to improve enrolment and retention rates. These presentations were followed by brainstorming activities, where colleges proposed actionable solutions tailored to their unique contexts.
The retreat discussions continued with a session moderated by Mrs. Mavis Otoo-Ayeh, during which the Provosts presented reports on the outcomes of the brainstorming sessions on graduate enrollment and retention. This was followed by an update on the operationalisation of the University’s internship policy, delivered by Rev. Dr. Bridget Ben-Naimah, Director of the Careers and Counselling Directorate (CCD) and the various Provosts.
A subsequent session, moderated by Mr. Benedict Fosu-Adjei, College Registrar of the College of Humanities, saw the Director of the Institutional Advancement Directorate, Prof. Kwasi Dartey-Baah, present a comprehensive guide to preparing action plans for 2025. Participants then took part in group sessions to draft these plans, focusing on aligning objectives across colleges and central administration.
The retreat concluded with the presentation of action plans by representatives from various units.
In her closing remarks, the Vice-Chancellor commended participants for their active engagement and underscored the importance of collaboration and commitment to achieving the University’s strategic goals.
The retreat also included recreational activities, allowing participants to unwind and recharge for the intensive discussions and planning sessions.
