Envisioning Incentives for Improving University Governance: A Ghanaian Perspective

Mr. Ndoye, Joshua-Luther Ndoye
Lecturer
  +233244974097
  jlnupoalkpajor@uew.edu.gh
Profile
Publications

Authors
Bernard Bekuni Boawei Bingab, Joseph Ato Forson, Oscar Siema Mmbali, Theresa Yaaba Baah-Ennumh & JOSHUA-LUTHER NDOYE UPOALKPAJOR
Publication Year
2016
Article Title
Envisioning Incentives for Improving University Governance: A Ghanaian Perspective
Journal
International Journal of Management, Knowledge and Learning
Volume
5
Issue Number
2
Page Numbers
223–244
ISSN
2232-5697
Website Url
http://www.issbs.si/press/ISSN/2232-5697/5_223-...
Abstract

The incentive to strengthen university governance system has three implica- tions: (1) improving the quality of the university education system, and thus providing students and the general public value for money, (2) enhancing the utilization of resources invested in university education, and (3) contributing significantly to the formation of human capital, quality of public leadership, and best services to the society. However, there are limited studies on how this can be realized in Ghana. This is a qualitative study seeking to explore the following questions: What is needed to ensure desirable university gov- ernance? And how can it be achieved? In-depth interviews and documentary research were used to collect data from twenty-three participants. The study examines key governance issues such as funding, accountability, infrastruc- ture, trust, and regulation. The study contextually contributes to the literature on university governance and management by bringing to the fore the incen- tives needed to enhance it for a better output to meet the development needs of the Ghanaian economy and the African continent with similar challenges as a whole.

Policy Contributions

In the effort of making a difference between poverty and wealth, knowledge becomes an indispensable means, and university education is at the centre of such knowledge. James D. Wolfensohn, the former World Bank President in 2000, affirmed that it is impossible to have a complete education system without an appropriate and strong higher education system (Holm-Nielsen, 2001). As a consequence, university governance through which knowledge is produced should be of importance to the Ghanaian State, the African continent and the world at large. Good governance remains the bedrock of development. Indeed the roles of universities in the production of leaders remain pivotal, and so does the management and administration of univer- sities. For is reason, university governance should be of interest to every good meaning person. Consequentially, questions on which are the key de- sirable university governance issues and how can these issues serve as a conduit for ensuring quality are central to this study. These have been explored and its implications for policy and practice outlined. Universities, through their governance systems, build their cultures through values, ideas, beliefs, norms (Morgan, 2006). And thus, to gain legitimacy, every university ought to strive to do what is right so that they are in agreement with this set of norms, rules, laws, policies, and form the guide in as far as university governance is concerned. Indeed, a system to monitor progress of compliance must always be in place with the agreed or set norms. However, it is a more refreshing approach to establish internal institutional mechanisms that will allow the universities to do self-appraisal at periodic intervals in order to inform policy direction and not just depend on the external monitoring schemes. Openness, transparency and accountability can be synonyms of good governance not only in universities but also in other spheres of the human endeavour, only if the impact of these virtues can be beneficial to those who are being governed.

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