Learner’s Submission: Alignment of Human Resource Capacity Development with the Development Vision of Ghana; The Role of Top Leaders

“Development of ‘human resources’ in both public and private sector organizations has become critical in an increasingly knowledge-based globalizing economy (Analoui, 2007). In particular, human resource capacity building for public service delivery has been recognized by developed, transition, and developing economies under the notion of the ‘new public management’ reform.

The development of every country depends on the capacity of her human resource. Globalization, innovation, new economic settings, information technology, peace, deregulation, demographic changes in the population; Institutions today face a variety of challenges. In order to stay ahead of the pack, firms must adjust their business strategies to reflect and address these challenges inherent within our newfound global environment. It is vital that managers and consultants are able to analyze the shifting frame conditions and, implement the corporate strategy accordingly. I believe that in all the challenges, education will lead the change towards a more sustainable future. To meet all these challenges we need to generate knowledge and understanding including scientific knowledge through research and tacit knowledge resident with the local people. This is because, as the saying goes ”he that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils and extinction, for time is the greatest innovator”. Without a shadow of doubt, a country’s human capital constitutes its most formidable asset and resource in the strive towards sustainable development in all its facets. Countries such as Singapore have excelled both economically and socially as a result of heavy and sustained investment in their human resources, despite a limited natural resource endowment.

In light of this, top leadership has to move from the attitude of business as usual to a more strategic planning, innovation and strategy in order to cause or create paradigm shift of the human resource capacity development of the country. In order to achieve this goal the following policies should be implemented;

• Government leaders together with stakeholders should promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and build human capacity and knowledge through comprehensive and high-quality education, training, and skills development programs. They should promote quality education as a goal, including basic education and distance learning as a means of sharing ideas and experiences in facing common challenges and exploiting opportunities presented by the rapid development.
• They should also place importance on a learning society that affirms the role of education, prepares its peoples to embrace the change, and is characterized by lifelong learning. Information technology should be a core competency for teachers and students.
• Moreover they must ensure that human resource capacity development  interventions are based on systematic needs assessment and avoid over optimism about her level of commitment to projects. Their commitment must be based on critical assessment of the political economy and peoples’ commitment to change. Top leaders must also ensure adequacy of funding and proper planning and management of programmes
• Also they must address issues of sustainability of project and project goals should align with national priorities/objectives. Project design should also show clarity, feasibility and impact.
• They must emphasize the significance and use of ICTs as a component of human resource capacity building across Ghana’s economy, and in the distribution of knowledge by establishing education as the fundamental issue in policy development in Member Economies.

In a nutshell if the above listed roles are been considered by top leadership, it will aid in promoting Ghana, ownership and leadership of national development agenda, including the achievement of Aid Effectiveness and sustainable development. It will also help to stimulate Ghana to be more self-reliant and self-sustaining accelerate economic growth and equitable development in order to reduce poverty and inequality progressively across Ghana and strengthen mutually beneficial learning, application and actions such that the country’s know-how, good practices and innovations will also shape global development thinking and actions positively in the 21st Century. ” – Peter Kwabena Essien – Tarkwa-Western Region, Ghana

Learner’s Submission: Aligning Human Resource Capacity Development

“According to UNDP,  Leadership is “the ability to influence, inspire, and motivate others to achieve or even go beyond their goals. It is also the ability to anticipate and respond to change. Leadership is not necessarily synonymous with a position of authority; it can also be held at many levels”.

Human Resource Leadership includes:

The ability to establish necessary relationships, mobilize the energies and talents of staff, and manage resources for optimal results, while respecting public service values and ethics.

Human Resource managers Capacity Development

The qualities of an effective HR manager in terms of knowledge, skills, attitude, and networks can make or break the trust the people have in the government. In this perspective, while maintaining a focus on human resource management, capacity development concerning people’s leadership in a good governance framework should be put into practice in all of its aspects. This applies especially for the core functions related to policies, planning and organization, strategies and service delivery systems.

Human Resource Capacity Development in Africa, for both the organization and the individual, is progressing from activities of education and training, to concepts of on-going learning through knowledge management and problem solving.

After defining leadership and human resource managers capacity development is, there are some needs to be done by top leaders to put things in the right manner to help with the development vision of the country.

First of all, there should be good governance: governance means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented) at the national levels, formal and informal decision making should be structured, at the rural level, urban areas, individuals organizations and public sectors, good governance should be exercise there. At least the characteristics of good governance should be seen in both private and public organizations to help championing the vision of a country. These characteristics include:

• Participation
• Rule of law
• Transparency
• Responsiveness
• Accountable
• Consensus oriented
• Equity and inclusiveness
• Effectiveness and efficiency

Secondly, training should be given to various leaders at the top helms of affairs. This should be done to equip them on their technical know-how and skills, should also upgrade their education to improve upon their existing knowledge. Training program must be compatible and consistent within the environment of every organization (both private and public organizations).

Moreover, Monitoring and Evaluation that need to be done by top leaders in every organization they find themselves. Monitoring and Evaluation system for implementation of program and other public initiations is essential in ensuring that goals are met as planned by the organizations the help the country meet his vision in the long run. Monitoring and Evaluation system aims at developing an accurate judgment and helping to make appropriate decisions. Once the decisions are made should be monitored from the objectives set previously.

Lastly, communication channels that exist within organizations and various public sectors. Public speeches, events, media relations and interpersonal relations within working sectors are several means by top leaders would be able to relay the importance of human resource capacity development within the country. Such methods of communication would be more readily available to national leaders and public will only serve to promote human resource capacity development in the country.

To conclude, good governance, training, Monitoring and Evaluation, and communication channels are the needs to be done by top leadership to align Human Resource Capacity Development with the development vision of the country.” – Agyemang  Israel Atta Senior – Kumasi, Ghana