UGBS Partners Graphic Communications Group Limited to Bridge the Gap between Academia and Industry

The University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), on Wednesday, 12th October 2022, at the Business School premises (main campus), to help bridge the gap between academia and industry. The partnership agreement was signed by the Dean of UGBS, Professor Justice N. Bawole, and the Managing Director (MD) of GCGL, Mr. Ato Afful. The ceremony was witnessed by some faculty and staff of UGBS, Mr. Emmanuel Poku-Sarkodee, the School Administrator, Dr. Kobby Mensah and Dr. Raphael Odoom, the new and immediate past Coordinator of UGBS Marketing and Communications unit. The GCGL was represented by Mr. Franklin Sowa, Director of Marketing and Sales, and Mr. Charles Benoni Okine, acting Editor, Graphic Business.

In Prof. Bawole’s welcome address, he gave a brief history of the Business School and mentioned that the partnership with GCGL borders on one of the school’s strategic pillars. According to the Dean, the school has a strategic thrust to reach out to industry players and the public using strategic communication, hence the School’s delight in this partnership.

On his part, Mr. Ato Afful, on behalf of the Graphic Communications Team, thanked the Dean and the entire Business School management for the opportunity. He averred that UGBS has touched on one of the significant conversations GCGL has opened with the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, which is also one of the Business School’s mandates–the continuous engagement of society. From his experience, Mr. Afful highlighted how the university community can positively impact and influence society.

He added that for them at Graphic, it is really critical that at the faculty level there is some form of communication. He spoke about the numerous communication channels available to be used for engaging the public: Mirror, Daily Graphic, Ghanaian Times, Graphic Business, etc. According to Mr. Afful, students can also share their knowledge and expertise in diverse fields. To end, he stated that “some people in the society may not get the opportunity to come to the Business School, but one way to reach them is via communication channels available to them”.

Moving forward, the acting Editor of Graphic Business, Mr. Charles Benoni Okine, averred that he hopes they can walk the talk of the slogan, “gowns to town”. “With this, when people go to social media, they’ll be able to read what the facts are if faculty is able to get the right content out there”. Mr. Okine mentioned that Graphic Communications is willing to give special packages to support this course. “Because your content will add value to our products,” he added. He emphasised that when this is done, people will be well informed, and they will ask the right questions.

Both parties are thrilled about the partnership and are ready to contribute their resources to ensure they enhance the development of joint studies, research, and training to aid in communicating with industry players and the public at large.