HR Administrators Unite to Tackle Governance and Compliance Challenges in Universities

UG, through its Human Resource and Organisational Development Directorate has collaborated with Vice-Chancellors Ghana to host the maiden National Conference for Human Resource Directors in Public and Technical Universities in Ghana.  Themed ‘Enhancing Human Resource Governance in Higher Education: Promoting Compliance, Resolving Challenges, and Meeting Regulatory Standards,’’ the three-day conference sought to equip HR professionals with the knowledge and best practices to navigate the complexities of HR governance and address emerging challenges in higher education, ultimately driving institutional excellence and academic success.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, underscored the importance of effective human resource governance in higher education, highlighting the complexities of regulatory compliance, institutional constraints and systemic challenges. 

She acknowledged the evolution of HR governance from an administrative function to a strategic one, requiring HR leaders to build robust systems, processes and behaviors that align human capital with national development goals. 

Prof. Amfo also highlighted key challenges facing universities, including recruitment restrictions, staff attrition and promotion issues. She proposed strategies to address these, such as HR forecasting, alternative staffing models, retention strategies and clear promotion policies. 

She stressed the importance of documenting HR policies and guidelines, communicating them effectively to staff, and ensuring transparency and fairness in HR processes to build trust and credibility.

Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah reiterated the importance of promoting excellence in people management. ‘This conference provides a platform for HR professionals to discuss best practices, share insights and develop strategies to strengthen HR systems,’ she added.  Mrs. Agyei-Mensah encouraged participants to explore innovative approaches to HR governance.

Touching on key takeaways from the opening, Director of UG HRODD, Dr. Yvonne Ayerki Lamptey emphasised the need for co-creative policies, HR governance frameworks and inter-university collaboration to address HR challenges. Dr. Lamptey further emphasised the importance of aligning policies with national frameworks and leveraging institutional agility and leadership to drive excellence. 

Other notable speakers during the conference included Prof. Richard Akwasi Amankwa, Chairperson of Vice-Chancellors Ghana and Vice-Chancellor of UMaT, whose presentation on the theme “Strengthening HR Leadership through inter-university collaboration and regulatory alignment” was delivered by Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo; Dr. Cynthia Sena Kpeglo-Freiku, Executive Secretary of Vice-Chancellors Ghana; and Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General of GTEC, who also spoke on ‘‘Advocacy and Influence’’ and “Strengthening Compliance” respectively.