The Rector, according to GIJ, proceeded on a “voluntary annual leave” in December 2017, following allegations of infractions in procurement practices and other issues.

[contextly_sidebar id=”I9001Zd8QcrntEXuMzkb03uXPtg2ByYz”]A four-member committee was subsequently tasked to investigate the issue.

Head of Communications Department at the Institute, Dr. Modestus Fosu, was asked to serve as acting rector, whereas the acting Deputy Rector, Ebow Afful, was also asked to return to the classroom to teach and resume his role as head of department.

The Registrar of the Institute, Perry K.K OFosu, was also ordered to proceed on leave.

While it is unclear whether Dr. Dzisah has been sacked or not, GIJ has advertised three supposed vacant positions up for grabs including Rector, Deputy Rector and Deputy Registrar positions.

“GIJ seeks to employ qualified persons with the requisite academic and professional backgrounds in the key administrative positions of Rector, Deputy Rector and Deputy Registrar,” the advert in the Daily Graphic Newspaper on Monday, February, 26, 2018 added.

Meanwhile, attempts to get further details on the advertisement have proved futile.

Dr. Wilberforce Dzisah was appointed Rector of GIJ in September 2014 succeeding David Newtown, who retired on August 31, 2014.

Before his appointment, Dr. Dzisah was the Vice-Rector of the Institute.

He also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Communications and Social Science in the Institute.

EOCO invited to assist with investigations at GIJ

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), according to the State newspaper, Daily Graphic in its February 13, 2018 publication, was invited to assist with investigations related to alleged procurement infractions by the management of GIJ under the leadership of Dr. Wilberforce Dzisah as Rector.

The newspaper said the Governing Council of GIJ, chaired by Professor Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh, invited EOCO to assist in the investigations.

“A letter dated February 7, 2017 signed by the GIJ Council Chairman to EOCO indicated that the council was investigating the operation of the institute from September 2014 to date. The letter stated that the EOCO was to assist, including forensic audit, in establishing any short-comings that might have caused the institute to lose property or finances and, if any, their prompt retrieval. According to the letter, the GIJ Council is principally interested in any role and actions, criminal or otherwise, some persons might have played, or indulged in, to lead to loss or wrongdoing during the period.”

According to the Daily Graphic, those mentioned in the letter were Dr. Wilberforce Dzisah, Rector, since 2013, and currently on leave, Dr. Ebo Afful, Acting Vice Rector until January 31, 2018; Perry P.K. Ofosu, Registrar, who is currently on leave; and Akwasi Sekyere Boateng, Procurement Officer who is still at post, and any other member of faculty or staff.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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He said while Ghana, and indeed, Africa’s quest to be independent of aid was laudable, the same could not be said of the GIJ, which was facing acute lack of funds.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8SuqYzhpGDCxybkE0be2DwmJ7ACndVqt”]Speaking at the Third Congregation of the School of Graduate Studies and Research of the Institute, Dr Fosu said the constraints had left GIJ ‘hemmed in’ at its present campus with students, lecturers, administrative staff competing for the limited space.

GIJ, he said, had been beset with serious challenges over the years especially, with infrastructure and personnel.

The Institute which, is now fully-fledged tertiary institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, but has a staff strength of only 24, necessitating a dependence on part time lecturers, with its associated challenges.

The Institute’s efforts to develop its new site at Okponglo in Accra have also been thwarted over the years, as successive governments have failed to honour their promises to provide the requisite resources.

He stated that except for a solitary block, without any fittings, there was currently nothing of importance on that land, as work had come to a standstill after the exhaustion of the GETFund’s allocation for the completion of the project.

“President Nana Akufo-Addo sees Ghana beyond aid. Yes to the President! Yes, Ghana and Africa can exist without aid but this cannot be said of the GIJ, which needs support to expand,” he stated.

The Institute needs support to build more lecture halls to accommodate the expansion in its programmes and courses, to build and stock a library befitting the contemporary competitive university like the GIJ and to provide hostel facilities for students, he said.

He appealed to government and education-loving individuals, bodies, agencies and institutions to come to the GIJ’s aid.

“We, the staff of GIJ, are very ambitious and committed to working hard. We have a strong determination to build and uplift this educational institution to rival the best in Ghana, Africa and beyond.”

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Source: GNA

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It is unclear whether the said investigation is connected to the Rector’s leave, considering that no particular official is named as being the target of the supposed investigation.

A four-member investigative committee has thus been set up by the University’s Governing Council to look into petitions conveying complaints from some persons in the school.

The issues being investigated revolve around “academic integrity, procurement practices and any other matters arising out of the investigation” according to a letter sighted by Citi News.

The committee is probing “matters arising out of, and as summarized in petitions submitted to the Council Chairperson; complaints raised during meetings with the Executive Management Board, Senior members, Senior and Junior Staff and the SRC; as well as the Chairperson’s observations on prevailing decision making and implementation procedures.”

“The Committee is also to come up with proposals to rectify any shortcomings that may be detected to enhance the Institute’s operations.

Council seeks the cooperation of all within the GIJ community to ensure a successful investigation,” the letter added.

Thus, “the Rector of the Institute is on leave to facilitate a smooth investigation.”

The investigative committee began its work Monday, December 18, 2017, and is being chaired by one Dr. Margaret Amoakohene.

The Acting Vice-Rector of the university, Dr. Ebo Afful, is to act in Dr. Dzisah’s absence, a letter signed by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Prof. Kwasi Ansu-Kyeremeh stated.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Newsroom competition is a simulated news reporting, Corporate Communication and Debating contest that brings universities that run communication programmes together in a battle for bragging rights and institutional clout, while giving students the opportunity to synthesize theory with practice.

The performance of competing institutions is assessed by a judging panel composed of seasoned industry professionals.

Defending champions, GIJ made their title defence intentions clear by winning the first two rounds but lost the third round and still carried the day.

They took home a trophy, with each team member receiving a certificate. “It was not easy but we are happy we retained the crown”, a member of the winning team said.

In line with the mood of the nation, this year’s Newsroom Competition was themed; “Communicating Peace for Nationhood”.

The News Reporting round of the contest was handled by the Ghana4Peace Campaign team which staged a mock news conference to create content for competing institutions to develop their reports.

Speaker for the side, Esther Quayson who is in charge of Communications, urged Ghanaians to stay on the side of peace as the nation readies itself to go to the polls. She had this to say; “Ghana is not particularly righteous or exceptionally peaceful to have escaped the troubles that have destroyed some of our neighbours and other African countries. We seem to be taking the peace we enjoy in this country for granted. Let us be reminded that it takes only a moment of loose talk, senseless political tension or uncontrolled tribal commentary to turn a whole nation upside down. We need to restrain ourselves at this crucial moment because we have only one Ghana”

The Event was graced by the President of ICUG, Dr. Mohsen Ma’arefi together with his top management staff, and the Deputy Chinese Ambassador to Ghana. They took turns to commend Cheetah Communications, organisers of the contest for giving students the opportunity to experience industries realities while on campus and called on participants to imbibe the salient lessons brought on by the competition

The Newsroom 2016 was sponsored by the Chinese Embassy, Accra Brewery Limited, the Finder Newspaper, Business Day Newspaper and Teksol.

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Source: Cheetah Communications

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The event which is aimed at inculcating the habit of reading among Ghanaians will be held at 2pm  at the Forecourt of the institution.

The event will also be followed with a book sale and signing ceremony at the same place on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at 12 noon.

‘The Afrocentric Obama and lessons on political campaigning’ was launched at the British Council in Ghana on October 8, 2016.

The book presents President of America, Barack Obama from an African perspective and how it helped him break through on the political tarrain.

Dr. Sikanku in his book explained how Obama’s African roots also played a very critical role in his success story.

The book also presents an Afrocentric guide to President Obama and further analyses Obama’s philosophical and theoretical impulses from a fresh and less-examined viewpoint, the Afrocentric framework.

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By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The 14 are second year students who have proven to be the best in the law faculty of the institution.

Speaking at the ceremony to award the scholarships to the students, the Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, HE Ali Halabi, admonished the students to maintain the level of academic excellence that helped them to get the scholarships.

“Today, I am urging the new and continuing beneficiaries to take advantage of this opportunity and ensure that they maintain high academic standards in order to merit future rewards,” he said.

The Provost of the College of Science and Built Environment, Professor Joshua Ayarkwa, in a speech he delivered on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, thanked the Lebanese Community in Ghana and stated that, he understood that the reason for choosing law students as beneficiaries of the scholarship is due to the contributions of the legal system in binding society together.

One of the beneficiaries, Afia Poku, pointed out how the scholarships motivate the students to study harder.

“I must mention our deep sense of appreciation for this scholarship scheme which has greatly motivated us students to strive to achieve academic excellence.”

The Lebanese community in Ghana started supporting law students in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Ghana, and communication students at the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2013.

The scholarship scheme covers tuition fees and some accommodation provisions, and it is renewed every year.

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By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The community is also supporting four others who are undertaking the Masters’ Programme at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

This is in addition to a scheme that supports some students who are pursuing their degree programmes at the Ghana Institute of Journalism and the Law Schools at the University of Ghana and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Speaking at the ceremony to present the scholarship award to the 15 Ghana School of Law students, the Lebanese ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Ali Halabi, said that the community made this move because of how important rule of law is to the Ghanaian society.

“The need for the continuity of a favourable state of law in Ghana is at the heart of the Lebanese Community. I have realised that legal education and the attainment of this favourable rule of law system are not mutually exclusive,” he said.

“This is going to be a new scholarship scheme that will include providing support to selected students undergoing the professional training at the Ghana School of Law and those undertaking the Masters’ Programme at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.”

The Dean for the Faculty of Law at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology also noted, “Every nation needs lawyers to craft laws to ensure stability and fight against the threat of terrorism. A solid legal environment will attract investors. Scholarship will help students acquire quality education to contribute to the legal and facilitate development.”

The Lebanese Community in Ghana started the scholarship scheme in 2013 when it awarded scholarships to 7 communication students in the Ghana Institute of Journalism and 15 law students from KNUST and the University of Ghana.

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By: Jeffrey Owuraku Sarpong/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Lebanese Community awards 15 law students with scholarships appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The author set off on an emotional note and ended up putting the wrong foot forward. In the second paragraph, she quoted the Rector; “management has raised concerns about an increase in indecent dressing by students. Management has therefore decided on the following and this should not only go to fresh men and women but for the continuing students as well. No shorts or miniskirts are to be worn for lectures. Clothes which expose your vital parts shall not be entertained.”

She then went all out to traduce the Rector’s pronouncement with an amazing interpretation to satisfy her whims. She wrote; “one is shocked by the announcement but not completely surprised by it. GIJ is joining a long list of Ghanaian institutions using Victorian ideas of propriety to control women’s bodies for men. Here is my theory. I don’t believe that the school authorities meant to ban shorts for men. I think it was added to make the idiotic ban seem fair. I believe what the school truly wanted to ban was miniskirts and whatever else the school administration deems indecent for women to wear”

The Rector said “management had raised concerns about an increase in indecent dressing among students”. He did not single out ladies for special mention. The author had this to say in part; “I don’t believe that the school authorities meant to ban shorts for men. I think it was added to make the idiotic ban seem fair”. Analysis and interpretation is a function of the media, but misrepresentation is the preserve of foot soldiers. If the author had difficulty with the import of the Rector’s statement, she could have gone back to him for clarification, rather than engage in such bizarre analysis that only ended up making her piece lose its logical beauty. She opted for selective exposure but failed to realise that, that theory fails the test of fair and balance reportage

The writer accused the university’s Women’s Commissioner of sounding illogical and failing to meet up to standard grammar in a statement she issued in support of the Rector’s announcement. She however, failed to give us a taste of her impeccable writing skills. A number of sentences also failed to satisfy the demands of logical reasoning which she proffered for GIJ students, and even took on the Women’s Commissioner for falling short of. I will give a few examples.

She said in one paragraph; “Editors across the country will testify to the syntax/grammar/simple subject-verb agreement challenges of GIJ graduates”. The article under review went through the hands of an Editor – who I am convinced, is not scarcely trained – but it came out with all the grammatical flaws and logical absurdities that are being pointed out. What moral qualification does such an editor have to point out my poor writing skills when he’s a better representation of same? But he’s also part of the “Editors” the writer talked about. A qualifier like, “editors worth their rank” would have made the statement more logical.

Besides, a lot of things determine who becomes an editor today so not all of them are worth their weight and accolades. Considerations such as political affiliation, friendship, wealth, closeness to owners/financiers, rather than competence influence the choice of many an editor today. Not all of them command competency-driven respect among colleagues. There are even editors who rely on GIJ interns to get headlines written. Are those also qualified to testify to the communication deficit of GIJ products?

Read again: “Editors across the country will testify to the syntax/grammar/simple subject-verb agreement challenges of GIJ graduates”. Without evidence, the writer lumps up GIJ graduates – she makes no exception – as having weak writing and/or communication skills. This is groundless, unsupported and logically preposterous. Journalism frowns on unsubstantiated claims. GIJ produces excellent and weak materials in equal measure, just like any other institution. To claim that GIJ graduates – without exception – have communication challenges amounts to downright contempt for that hallowed institution.

The immediate statement after the quote above is; “Because while there are some GIJ graduates who do impressive and excellent work, there are many who were failed by the teachers who taught them”. The quote you just read, and the one in the preceding paragraph, give us two complete sentences. In the two quotes I have provided, the writer accused GIJ graduates – without exception – of having communication challenges at one point, and went ahead to create an exception in another. Which one do we take? The absolute claim or the exception? Where is the logic?

The same sentence which begins with “because”, is also grammatically problematic. The “Because while” combination in the context is improper. The sentence could have been; “while there are some GIJ graduates who do impressive and excellent work, there are many who were failed by the teachers who taught them”. The logic of the sentence is also difficult to make out. The author talks about the excellent work of some graduates in one part, and the failure of some students in another. What’s the connection? Does she mean those who do excellent work are by default successful in class? The logic is lost on me. One thing I know is, some trainees are classroom-inspired, while others are industry-driven. Between them, there is another group that shines no matter the setting. In our part of the world, there is always a yawning gap between class work and industry realities.

The concluding part of the second quote is also worth paying attention to; “…..there are many who were failed by the teachers who taught them”. Does she mean some students graduated from GIJ without merit? Any proof? Or is her conclusion also based on their inability to communicate effectively which she attempts to make a meal of but ends up landing in the same soup? Is the sentence not better written as; “there are many who failed”? Brevity and clarity are inseparable souls in professional journalism.

In a counter article, colleague GIJ Alumnus, Manasseh Azure Awuni, attempted to make a case for the writer’s ability to write well by making reference to some pieces she had done in the past. What Manasseh failed to realise was that, those write-ups in reference did not touch on this same topic – which calls for a more meticulous approach to writing because of the sensitive nature of the issue, which is language. The writer’s inability to demonstrate to the world that she was better at what she set out to accuse GIJ graduates of lacking, makes her sermon of little value. The reason is simple, sick doctors hardly earn the trust of patients.

Another quote from the piece; “the problem with this ban isn’t that it is sexist, and very, very stupid but that instead concerning itself with what is needed to train journalists who tell compelling stories and speak truth to power, the GIJ management is focused on the clothes of students”. It is only when one runs out of cogent points to advance an argument that the resort to insults comes in handy. Describing the decision as “very stupid”, will not change it. Enrich the argument by making your case with a well-researched stance. Journalism is not emotional, it’s passionate rather.

In the midst of all the song and dance about banning mini skirts or not, is the fact that the media is the conscience of society. This means, the moral stature of the society is a direct reflection of the ethical posturing of its media practitioners. Professional institutions don’t just teach to pass exams, they educate to impact lives, and even generations. That is why membership of professional associations is also regulated by codes of conduct.

The author made an attempt at pushing for better language training for student Journalists which is laudable, but failed to be an example of what she set out to preach. Her resort to the use of words like “stupid”, “daft”, and “idiotic”, also made the piece more emotional than passionate. Trained Journalists worth their calling don’t pick their pens in a fit of irritation. It’s very dangerous. Her decision to push for top-quality writing and reporting skills should also have made her more meticulous in fine-tuning her piece.

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By: Stephen Gyasi Jnr.

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