Atta Dabone Snr
The Principal Economics Officer with the Treasury and Debt Management Division of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Mr. Atta Dabone Snr, has called on all universities in the country to include mentorship in their curriculum to supplement efforts aimed at shaping the younger generation.
Mr. Atta Dabone Snr believes that it would be beneficial for universities in Ghana to incorporate mentorship, coaching and leadership as part of their courses.
According to him, this approach can empower students to shape their lives and prepare them adequately for the global job market and for the future.
Speaking at the 75th anniversary celebration of the University of Ghana, under the theme “Making an Impact Through Research and Mentorship: What Should We Do Differently After 75 Years?”, Mr. Atta Dabone Snr emphasised that anyone aspiring to achieve a brighter future should get a mentor.
Mr. Atta Dabone Snr., who is also the Group Head of Finance and Execution of the Treasury and Debt Management Division of MoF, further emphasised that many young people require mentoring to ensure they are well-prepared to represent and lead in the future as well as build their capabilities to compete in the competitive global job market.
He said, “Mentorship is a subject that is not commonly integrated into our educational curriculum. It’s essential for the University of Ghana to include mentorship, coaching and leadership as courses in the university to ensure that students receive this valuable guidance and training.”
“I’m very happy to hear that the University of Ghana is now going to introduce leadership as a course.
“Technological innovations such Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have made learning very easy and such tools will help hone new skills. In this regard, having courses in leadership and mentorship will go a long way to help build the skill sets required for the future,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the University of Ghana Business School, Prof. Justice Bawole, in an interview with Angel News Mubarak Yakubu stated that many professors, including himself, are not fully abreast with new technologies in education.
He believes that this is an appropriate time for students to connect the benefits of the technological advancements to enhance their learning.
Prof. Bawole also noted that many of the individuals he has taught over the past six years have achieved doctoral qualifications, and he attributes this success to the use of technology.
He refuted claims that technology is making students lazy, emphasising that he does not believe students will become lazy when they use technological tools for learning, as it has become the new norm.
“In our time, we had to visit the library to search for books and papers, but today, things have evolved. We must adapt our learning methods because there are advanced technological tools such as AI to assist students in their improvement.
“If you observe, many of the young ladies and gentlemen I have taught have achieved the status of professors in just six years, which was not necessarily an easy path for some of us who became professors. They stand out because they are highly intelligent, with a strong proficiency in computer operations,” he disclosed.
“It’s a challenging journey to acquire knowledge through traditional means, especially when compared to the convenience of using computers. Nowadays, AI technology is at our disposal, offering instant access to information when conducting data searches. While manually searching can be exhausting, AI and analytics make the process faster and more efficient,” he added.