KMA Staff undergo training
The staff of KumasiMetropolitan Assembly (KMA) have undergone a training programme on projectmanagement at the KMA.
This training programmewas part of an initiative introduced by the Dutch Embassy in conjunction withthe VNG International based in Netherlands to help government institutions toidentify new ways that could be exploited to increase their revenue base. Thiswas the second time the team from Netherlands have visited KMA.
The team comprising Mr.Erik Dolle and Sef Maessen held some discussions with the Metro ChiefExecutive, Hon. Kojo Bonsu and heads of some departments (Public Relations,Finance, Planning, Town and Country Planning, Land Valuation and Budget) andtogether identified four new areas the Assembly could exploit to increase itsrevenue base. These areas were external collectors, expansion of areas for paidparking, communication and update revenue database with approximately 4000objects.
Staff from the PublicRelations, Planning, Finance and Budget departments were giving training inthese identified areas. Mr. Erik Dolle and Mr. Sef Maessen were the resourcepersons. The purpose of the training programme was to help the staff to improvetheir skills in project management so that they could manage effectively andefficiently the four projects identified. The training programme was in two partswhich included presentation session and practical or exercise session. Underthe presentation session, the instructor took the participants through seriesof PowerPoint presentations on project management focusing on effectivemanagement practices or principles that could ensure increase in revenuecollections.
When it came to the practicalsession, it became more interactive as all the participants were put into twogroups. Each group was assigned a task which required them to apply themanagement principles acquired from the presentation session to manage aproject to achieve result. The groups were expected to develop their ownobjectives, activities and benefits of the assigned project within a time frameof 15 minutes. After that, a member from each group presented and defended theirreports. Critiques, suggestions and comments were welcomed from each side ofthe divides to ensure that each participant understood the processes involvedin managing projects.
After the training, Mr.Godwin Okumah Nyame, the PRO of KMA who was a participant expressed that he hadreally enjoyed the training sessions more than any other similar programmes hehad participated.
According to him, thepractical session where each group was assigned a task gave him the opportunityto learn how to apply project management principles in solving problems inpractical contexts. He also added that the knowledge gained would be of immensehelp to him to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of his department.