The University of Professional Studies, Accra
(UPSA) and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC)
have reached an agreement for the incorporation of the University’s public
sector accountability modules into the latter’s training programmes.
Under the agreement which was signed on the
campus of the UPSA, the University’s Centre of Excellence for Public
Accountability will provide resource persons for the teaching of three modules
namely: the Concept of Public Accountability, Public Financial Management
System of Ghana, and Financial Laws of Ghana. It has also been agreed between
the parties that these courses will be taught by facilitators from the UPSA
free of charge as part of the University’s social responsibility
programme.
In a remark at the signing ceremony,
Vice-Chancellor of the UPSA, Professor Joshua Alabi said: “…this is an
opportunity for us to showcase what we have to the country and the rest of the
world. We have identified something very important for this country and we
realise that the best way to make impact is to make it our corporate social responsibility,
especially to your outfit.”
The Vice-Chancellor further mentioned that the
good thing about UPSA is that its programmes are specifically designed to meet
the needs of society. “We are the only institution in Ghana offering Masters
Degrees in Auditing, Oil and Gas and Total Quality Management, etc., We also
try to make the courses we teach very practical. So when the Hon. Dr.
Albert Kan Dapaah brought up this idea of creating awareness around public
accountability, we considered it to be very good and developed it, until we
established the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA),” he said.
On his part, the Commandant of the
KAIPTC Major General Obed Boamah Akwa said: “Our institution has grown far
above the level of just training our troops and now runs post graduate courses
focusing on three thematic areas, namely: Conflict Management, Peace
Support Operation and Peace and Security Studies.”
He indicated that the KAIPTC is funded through
government support as well as donor support from the Denmark, Norway and
Sweden. He added that other countries such as German, France, United
States of America,United Kingdom also provide earmark funding for specific
courses.
He noted: “We wish to express our gratitude to
UPSA for running the Public Accountability Programme run free of charge as part
of its corporate social responsibility. We also want to assure you that
far as KAIPTC is concerned, we would adhere strictly to get our side of
the MoU that we are going to sign today."
KAIPTC was established in 1998 with the aim of
harnessing the massive experience and skills of the Ghana Armed Forces in
peacekeeping in various countries in Africa, including the Congo, Western
Sahara, Somalia and other countries like Cambodia, Yugoslavia, etc for the development
of capacity on the continent.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the
Registrar of the UPSA, Dr. Mohammed Mustapha Seidu; Consulting Director for the
Centre for Public Accountability, Hon. Dr. Albert Kan Dapaah; and the
University’s Director of Finance, Rev. Joseph K. Antwi, and Mrs. Vera Akumiah,
Deputy Director of Public Affairs
Signed
Mrs. Vera Akumiah
Deputy Director, Public Affairs
Source: Hwenebobo Newsstand
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