RID Staff Review Revised Grants Management Manual Ahead of Final Approval
The Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) has held a staff engagement to review the revised Grants Management Manual ahead of its final approval.
The meeting, held on 11 November 2026, brought together staff of the Directorate and was attended by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe; the Deputy Registrar the Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (RID), Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo; and other administrative staff.
The manual, developed with contributions from staff of the Directorate, was initially introduced during a staff retreat in 2025. Following discussions and suggestions for improvement, the document was revised to address the concerns raised and strengthen the University's grants management procedures.
The engagement provided an opportunity for staff to familiarise themselves with the revised manual, examine the changes made and offer further input ahead of its final approval.
A presentation on the revised Grants Management Manual during the RID staff engagement.
Mrs. Beatrice Sakyibea Biney-Nyamekye, Head of the Grants Management and Research Support Unit, provided an overview of the grants management processes, highlighting the Directorate's responsibilities in supporting researchers throughout the grant lifecycle, from proposal development and submission to project implementation and close-out.
Mrs. Sylvia Antwiwaah Sarbah, Research Development Officer, delivered a presentation on internal grants, including the University of Ghana Research Fund (UGRF) and the University of Ghana Conference Grant (UGCG). She outlined relevant procedures and considerations for improving the administration of internally funded research.
A Research Development Officer takes participants through aspects of the grants management process.
Mrs. Joyce O. Appiah, Research Development Officer, presented on post-award grants management, focusing on the procedures and responsibilities involved in administering funded research projects.
During the interactive session, Professor Codjoe and staff discussed ways to strengthen the University's grants management systems. Among the issues raised were the possibility of engaging external reviewers for internal research grants, broadening access to the University of Ghana Conference Grant, improving proposal assessment and strengthening the monitoring of research outputs and impact.
A participant contributes to discussions during the interactive session on the revised manual.
Discussions also focused on improving administrative efficiency, particularly reducing turnaround times for research-related services, strengthening pre-award support and enhancing staff capacity in proposal development and contract administration.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor encouraged staff to take greater initiative in identifying external funding opportunities and developing competitive proposals. The importance of continuous professional development was also emphasised, including specialised legal training to support Research Development Officers in reviewing contracts and agreements.
Staff exchange views on improving grants administration and research support services at the University.
The revised Grants Management Manual, which has been tabled before the University Council for approval, is expected to provide a more comprehensive and consistent framework for research grants administration at the University.
The engagement reflects the Directorate's commitment to strengthening institutional research management capacity, improving operational efficiency and providing effective support to researchers.
The second part of the engagement is scheduled for Thursday, 19 November 2026, when staff will continue discussions on the manual and its implementation.