Senior security officers upgrade leadership skills
By Selorm GBORBIDZI, Accra
A five-day workshop for senior leadership and management of various security agencies is currently underway in Accra.
The workshop, which is being jointly organised by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and the Commonwealth Secretariat is meant to equip the selected participants with the leadership tools needed to improve their leadership and efficiency and enhance law enforcement in the country.
They are expected to receive training in organizational leadership, strategic planning, conflict management, ethics and professionalism.
Comptroller General of GIS, Kwame Asua Takyi, noted that the participants will be taken through various aspects of leadership over the next week, as well as good governance, conflict management, strategic planning, management, and emotional intelligence, among others, while also exploring the latest trends and best practices in leadership and management.
He also indicated that as part of his strategy for improving national security, he has “made it a priority to strengthen our bond with sister security organisations and key stakeholder.”
It is due to this strategy that the workshop is being organised for members of various agencies “to learn, share varied perspectives, and be exposed to new ideas as a way of solidifying this relationship.”
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Interior, Adelaide Anno-Kumi told the participating organisations to embrace the content of the workshop, noting that “it is through such initiatives that equip ourselves.”
She reminded them that the security challenges that the country faces require that security officials and institutions adapt, innovate and collaborate with each other.
She reminded them of the importance of skills development in the security sector, and the empowerment of personnel with the tools and insight necessary to operate well in their various areas of expertise.
Anno-Kumi, encouraged the participants to take full advantage of their participation and view the five-day event as an investment into their future and career.
The facilitator for the workshop, Professor Roger Koranteng, who is the head of Public Sector Governance at the Commonwealth Secretariat, stated that such capacity building opportunities are critical in creating agile, resilient, crime-busting institutions.
He told the gathering that effective leaders create positive organizational culture, strengthen motivation, clarify mission and organizational objectives, and steer organisations to more productive and high-performing outcomes.
He said, “our tasks are quite significant as domestic and cross border crime and insecurity has become more sophisticated,” noting that it is more important now than ever before that Senior Management of security agencies are kept abreast with the current and effective skills and knowledge to effectively lead and manage their resources, including human resources.
Some of the participating organisations of the workshop include the Ghana Armed forces, The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Gaming Commission, The Ghana National Fire Service and the Cyber Security Authority.
