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COVID-19: IoD prescribes remedies for businesses
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has advised businesses to develop immunity through strategic capacity development for the new normal till the COVID-19 pandemic eases.
This it said must be coupled with a cultural shift, mindset change, behavioural change and a robust change management process including effective communication with major stakeholders as an imperative if businesses must survive.
The IoD made these recommendations in a communiqué issued in Accra yesterday after a meeting with some companies’ board chairs.
The meeting chaired by Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi sought to undertake a situational analysis of the present predicament within the context of Ghanaian businesses.
It recommended to businesses to focus on short-term survival strategies till September 2020, allowing another 18 months for the dust to settle whilst keeping tabs on global reactions.
“Employers should develop good relationships with their employees and give employees information on the actual status of the business to avoid unreasonable demands leading to minimising the risk of layoffs. Businesses should seek labour experts on account of the high potential for future redundancies and layoffs,” the communiqué said.
It said “There must be professionalism in dealing with the psychological effects on both internal and external stakeholders. Businesses should begin to consider a broader range of skills in candidates who desire to sit on boards.”
“Current board members must also be trained. Training content must be informed by sector specific business continuity plans, periodic reviews of which will also address both present and future gaps including underlying risks and unexpected disruptions.
Businesses must bear in mind that the various projections for the development of a vaccine for the corona virus are uncertain, drawing lessons from previous outbreaks like HIV/AIDS, Ebola, SARS, MERS, TB etc,” the communiqué said.
This the communiqué said called for adaptability regarding business plans, creation of operational environments with minimal contacts, plan for all types of risks bearing in mind the effects of depreciation of demand and the way forward.
“Businesses should uphold high standards in health and safety protocols starting from the board. This may include reducing to the barest minimum board member contacts on account of the inherent danger of exposure, reduction in routine and regular board physical meetings and considerations to new approaches to conversations to factor in procedural arrangements,” it said.
The communiqué also asked businesses should conduct COVID-19 impact assessments on their sectors and operations, document strategic mitigation and survival methodologies and ensure sustainable implementation.
“Board agenda should begin to change considerably from the traditional pathways with a keen focus on business robustness and sustainability with risk management as a very critical ingredient. IoD-Gh considers these positions as strategically relevant to the Ghanaian business survival and growth in this era of COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.
This engagement is the first in a series of planned interactions among Chairs of Boards.
The Institute of Directors-Ghana (IoD-Gh) is a professional institution, which was registered in 1999 to promote the culture of good corporate governance through training, consultancy, research, and advocacy.
Its mandate is to advance and institutionalise the culture of sound corporate governance and competent leadership in Ghana.
BY TIMES REPORTER
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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