As part of Government of Ghana’s agenda to build a knowledge-based society that leverages Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as an enabler for sustainable development and improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of public sector agencies, the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications has successfully piloted Eight (8) e-Learning courses on the Learning Management System (LMS) which it operates for Eighteen (18) participating Chief Directors and other senior public sector officials.

The three-month online session afforded participants the opportunity to fully access (via desktop and mobile platforms) self-paced management courses provided by Harvard Business Publishing as part of the Harvard-Manage Mentor program with courses in Performance Management, Decision Making, Project Management, Delegating, Developing Employees, Change Management, Leading and Motivating, Performance Appraisal and Team Management. The LMS platform which is a web-based platform that employs industry leading virtual learning technology provided learners the flexibility to access learning content on-demand whether online or offline.

In a short presentation ceremony held at their respective offices,Seven (7) participants who successfully completed atleast one online course were presented with certificates, namely; Mrs Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Chief Director of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Cynthia Asare-Bediako, Chief Director of the Office of the Head of Civil Service (insert left), Mr. Twumasi Ankrah-Selby,Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, Mrs. Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei, Former Chairperson, National Commission for Civic Education (now Chairperson Electoral Commission), Mr. Eric Khartey,Director, Human Resources of the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Papa Arkhurst,Director, ICT of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Victor Xola Kwasi Senaya, Former Director, Public Sector Reform Secretariat (now Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports).

All participants expressed their appreciation of the facility extended to them to refresh and broaden their knowledge. Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Chief Director of the Ministry of Interior said; “the programme has been very beneficial and thought provoking and wish to commend the organizers for putting together such a great online learning platform, I will not hesitate to nominate other members of my staff to equally benefit from future programmes.” andMr. Twumasi Ankrah-Selby said, “the good thing about the system is that, from the comfort of my office I am able to refresh my memory on some key management concepts”.

Mr. Franklin Ziggah, E-Government Analyst from NITA stated that, “participants have clearly demonstrated exemplary leadership that is worth emulating, we believe their participation would energize other public sector officials and agencies to embrace this effective learning paradigm that saves time and cost in staff training”

Currently, agency-wide pilot implementations are ongoing with the Audit Service, Ministry of Health (Mid-Wifery Schools), Civil Service Training School, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ministry of Local Government, Public Sector Reform Secretariat  and the Controller and Accountant General’s Department. All other public sector organizations are invited to contact NITA for e-learning implementation partnership.