Human Resource (HR) management in Ghana is yet to make a transition from its routine administrative phase to a strategic stage.
“Most Human Resource Managers in Ghana are skilled in and perform very well administrative HR functions such as welfare services, recruitment services, training, promotions,
performance appraisals, salary administration, transfers and collective bargaining”.
Mr Kojo Asare-Bediako, Executive Director,
Institute of the Human Resource Management Practitioners, Ghana, made the assertion at the launch of the Institute’s Professional Certification Programme, expected to take off in
June this, at Ho Polytechnic on Tuesday.
He said private and public organizations currently contend with “people problems such as dissatisfaction with pay, low morale and motivation, low level productivity, poor work
attitudes, poor time management culture and under
performance among others.”
Mr Asare-Bediako said under these circumstances, Chief Executives look up to the human resource department to come up with systems and strategies to create motivating work
environment and a positive organizational culture.
He said: “In modern organizations, the HR
practitioner is expected to add value to the organization by designing strategies to complement business strategies”.
Mr Asare-Bediako said the design of human resource systems and strategies required the possession of professional HR knowledge, skills and a mindset with professional training.
He called for rigorous professional grooming of people who have acquired academic qualifications in Human Resource Management to enable them to measure up to the many human
resource challenges facing organizations.
Mr Asare-Bediako said the Institute prepares its students to develop “diagnostic, problem solving, strategic and professional mindset” to enable them to solve organizational problems and have competitive advantage over individuals who
have not been professionally trained.
He assured prospective students that a vast field of prospects awaits them as general professional HR practitioners or as industrial relations practitioners, learning and development practitioners, recruitment practitioners,
organizational development practitioners or compensation and benefits practitioners.
Dr Jakpasu V. Afun, Rector of the Polytechnic, observed that human resource functions in organizations have changed dramatically requiring quality and professionally well- grounded people to handle.