By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA – The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has charged the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration’s (GIMPA) to develop ethical and innovative leaders capable of using technology to advance governance and national development.
He said the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on governance, education, business and public service required graduates with the knowledge, skills and integrity to address emerging challenges.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II gave the charge at the launch of GIMPA’s 65th anniversary celebration in Accra, held under the theme: “A Legacy of Excellence, A Future of Digital Transformation.”
He said technology must go beyond the acquisition of computers and establishment of websites to improve service delivery, strengthen accountability, support evidence-based decisions and make public institutions more responsive to citizens.
“An inefficient institution does not become efficient merely by acquiring sophisticated technology. If a complicated procedure is transferred from paper to a computer, we may have only created a modern way of preserving an old problem,” he said.
The Asantehene said technological advancement required institutional reforms, competent leadership, appropriate investment and a willingness to abandon outdated administrative practices.
He urged GIMPA to integrate responsible AI, digital ethics and effective governance into its teaching and research programmes.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that although AI offered opportunities in education, healthcare, agriculture, public administration and scientific research, its application raised concerns about privacy, fairness, accountability and the protection of human dignity.
He said technology could determine what was possible, but human wisdom must guide decisions on what was right.
The Asantehene cautioned against widening inequalities through unequal access to technology, particularly between urban and rural communities.
He said limited access to electricity, internet connectivity, smartphones and digital tools could exclude some communities from the benefits of technological advancement.
He therefore called for investment in infrastructure, education and accessible public services to ensure inclusive development.
On GIMPA’s institutional development, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said its legacy should be measured not merely by the number of graduates, qualifications awarded or infrastructure established, but by the quality of leaders it prepared for positions of responsibility.
He said the true measure of an educational institution was the contribution of its graduates to solving societal problems and improving citizens’ lives.
Although Ghana had a considerable pool of highly educated professionals, the Asantehene observed that the country continued to face challenges in policy implementation, institutional coordination, accountability and service delivery.
He urged GIMPA to produce professionals capable of translating academic knowledge into practical solutions to national development challenges.
“Education must go beyond acquiring qualifications. It must develop the capacity to solve problems, make responsible decisions, strengthen institutions and improve the conditions of human life,” he said.
Professor Yaw Agyeman Badu, Chairman of the GIMPA Governing Council, said the Institute had reaffirmed its commitment to leadership development, institutional excellence and technological advancement.
He called for unity among stakeholders to preserve GIMPA’s legacy while building an innovative and globally competitive institution for future generations.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Kodjo Adams
Email: [email protected]