Representatives of Ghana Post Company Ltd, have called on the Management of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), at its campus in Somanya in the Eastern Region.
The acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Edward Wiafe-Debrah in the company of some Senior Members, including the Registrar, Mrs. Mary Abena Agyepong received the team in the Council Chamber led by Mr. Bernard Yaw Atta-Sonno, the General Manager and Cluster Head of the South East Sector and three of his colleagues.
Mr. Atta-Sonno explained that, the purpose of the visit to UESD was to deliberate with Management on how both institutions could partner in the modernized postal delivery system of mail to clients and prospective applicants.
He revealed that as part of Ghana Post’s strides to stay relevant in the modern world of business, the Company has redefined its goals and modus operandi by putting in place new strategies and schemes to introduce more forward-looking, all-inclusive, and cutting-edge services which will better serve its customers. This has led to a significant improvement in its operations, including door-to-door services, and the delivery of letters.
Mr. Atta-Sonno also spoke about Ghana Post’s Electronic Voucher (E-Voucher) scheme which has come to replace the old way of sending hard copies of Admission Application Forms to the Post Offices for sale. He said, this new system which involves online transactions boosts sales, eliminates application inconveniences, and has helped to monitor the entire process which reduces accounting challenges.
He was optimistic that a collaboration between the UESD and Ghana Post will ensure that potential applicants can procure their E-Vouchers through the Ghana Post platform. Another area of collaboration Mr. Atta-Sonno touched on was the establishment of an ultra-modern office of Ghana Post on campus to cater for the postal, courier, remittance needs and any other service that may fall within the scope of operations of the company to better serve staff and students.
In response, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of UESD, Prof. Edward Wiafe-Debrah, was happy with Ghana Post’s new direction and held the view that the new system will help make it more competitive in the modern day of business.
He said, irrespective of the company’s hardship it may be experiencing, it should endeavor to rise above it and provide world-class services as expected. He believes this is the best way the company’s efforts will be noticed across the country and beyond.
He, however, stated that for a more collaborative relationship, there will be the need for both institutions to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) where the requisite benefits and responsibilities of both institutions will be spelt out to ensure clarity and provide pre-determined objectives to be fulfilled.
The Registrar of the University, Mrs. Mary Abena Agyepong, while agreeing with the idea of entering into an MOU with the Ghana Post, also cited the need for a preliminary presentation to be made by both institutions at a date they will determine.
She said, the company’s presentation could focus on the nature and quality of services the company intends to introduce to the University community. In turn, the University’s presentation will also highlight the direction of the University and the possible collaborative areas to be explored and the benefits both parties will derive from it.
There were contributions from other members in the meeting. The Director of the Department of Physical Development and Estate Management,(DPDEM) of UESD, Dr. Isaac Abbam commenting on a Ghana Post site on campus emphasized that, it is the Management’s responsibility to make life on campus convenient for staff and students, hence, a parcel of land has been demarcated for as commercial zone where Ghana Post can take advantage of, to establish its office in accordance with the MOU to be prepared.
The Head of the Directorate of Information Technology and Service Operation (DITSO) Dr. Emmanuel Kitcher, stated that the services provided to students require precision and reliability and so once the collaboration goes through, it will be expected of Ghana Post to always keep to its side of the bargain by providing highly competitive services to meet the demands of students and staff in this new age of technology.
Other members of the UESD team in the meeting were: the Finance Director, Mr. Baffour Awuah Kwabi, the Director of Audit, Dr. Emmanuel Opoku Ware: and the Dean of Students, Dr. Daniella Delali Sedegah.
The Ghana Post team was the Postal Manager, Mr. Theophilus Kokonu; Regional Marketing Manager, Madam Xolali Tumsia-Ablo, and Madam Carolyn E. Pealore, District Manager.