The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has commenced talks with the Management of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on ways to foster academic collaboration between the university and the military.
The partnership agreement, when sealed, will see the introduction of tailor-made and hybrid programs targeted at junior, middle-level and senior officers of the GAF with expertise in accountancy and financial management.
These came to light when the Defence Financial Controller (DFC) of the GAF, Brigadier General Daniel K. Amissah, led a team from the military high command to visit the campus on Wednesday. He revealed that his outfit, through the GAF Heizel School of Finance, was looking forward to gaining ‘visibility’ and academic ‘credibility’ through a partnership with UPSA.
“We are here to explore how we can bring some visibility, credibility and improvement in the Heizel School of Finance through our partnership with you [UPSA],” he said.
Brigadier General Amissah, a UPSA alumnus ’88, stressed that the decision to partner UPSA on this novel project was borne out of the professionalism and etiquette which the two institutions uphold in high esteem.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Professor Charles Barnor, welcomed the proposal for collaboration and reiterated the university’s commitment to partnering any institutions that knocked on its doors.
He said the university has in recent times partnered other public and private sector agencies to design specialised programs for public service workers. Notable among these programs, he said, include MBA in Petroleum Accounting & Finance, MBA in Internal Auditing, MA in Peace, Security and Intelligence Management as well as other professional certificate courses.
“The university is opened to more collaborations with public institution,” the Pro-VC said.
“We are prepared to help redesign course content and restructure curriculum that will meet the needs and expectations of your officers.”
Prof. Barnor further revealed that curriculum experts of the university will soon be tasked to develop modalities for the “sequencing of the curriculum design” which will become the foundation upon which the partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces will be built.
Director of the Business Development Centre of UPSA, Dr. Albert Martins assured the delegation of his outfit’s support emphasizing the need for mutual benefit.
Other members of the GAF delegation on the visit to UPSA included Colonel K. Yankson (Director of Audit), Rev Commander D. Y. Akotey (Director of Budget & Finance) and Sl. Sgt. Arden-Dem Albert Abumalik (Faculty Member, Heizel School of Finance, GAF).