The Career Development Unit of the Office of the Dean of Students Affairs has exposed student leaders to requisite communication and leadership skills at a seminar organized at the main Campus on Friday, 28th June, 2024
The event aimed at enhancing students to become effective leaders, responsible citizens and positive change-makers.

In a presentation on “Communication for Effective Leadership” at the seminar, the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo highlighted the essential skills for effective conversation, namely, “listening to learn,” “inquiring for insight,” “telling the truth and expressing confidence.” He noted, that leadership is not just about Intelligence Quotient (IQ), but also about Emotional Intelligence (EQ). He indicated, that understanding and managing your emotions and those of others is vital for leaders to communicate well.

The Dean of Business School, Prof. George Oppong Ampong, discussed the “Concept of Leadership.” He elaborated that leadership is a relationship in which one person influences the behaviours of followers to achieve a common goal.  Prof. Oppong Ampong highlighted three types of leadership, namely, authoritarian (autocratic), participative (democratic) and delegative (laissez-faire).

He delved into “Ethics and principles of good leadership,” namely, human-centeredness, focusing on change, being human and admitting mistakes, understanding the value of listening, developing leadership skills, promoting diversity and being results-oriented.

The Director of University Relations, Dr. Nusrat-Jahan Abubakar gave insights on “Managing Problems and Challenges.” According to her, leadership is not just about holding a title, but it is about making a meaningful impact and this often involves facing and overcoming various challenges and obstacles. “The first and most crucial step in effectively managing these issues is to understand their nature.

Problems can come in many forms, some might be straightforward and easy to solve, while others could be complex, requiring more time and resources to address,” she said. According to Dr. Abubakar, as students’ leaders, it is imperative to master the art of conveying information clearly and concisely and this not only helps in avoiding misunderstandings but also ensures that everyone is on the same page.

“Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful leadership and problem-solving,” she emphasized.
A senior Lecturer, from the Department of Accounting, Banking and Finance at the Business School, Mr. Peter Lawer Angmor emphasized on “Accountability and Audit Process.”

He explained auditing as an official examination and verification of accounts and records, especially of financial accounts. Mr. Angmor stated that, “Through the auditing process, the auditor enhances the usefulness and value of the financial statements and also increases the credibility of the records.”

Mr. Angmor highlighted the audit process, namely, planning (define audit objectives and methodology); fieldwork (gathering of evidence to accomplish audit objectives); reporting (communicate audit results) and follow-up (review corrective actions plan and result).

Earlier at the seminar, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Michael Nana Owusu-Akomeah, underscored the need for leaders to respect time. According to him, respecting time demonstrates commitment to excellence, responsibility and the success of peers.