Prof John Mawutor inducted into office as new Vice Chancellor of UPSA

Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor was on Friday inducted into office as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

He, has therefore pledged to pursue five thematic aspirations to transform the university into a world-class professional institution in Africa and beyond.

The aspirations are to leverage on technology; promote interdisciplinary research; promote entrepreneurship, innovation and volunteerism; and upholding, protect and enhance the culture and brand of the university.

Prof. Mawutor said he would build on the solid foundation laid down by his immediate past predecessor, Prof. Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, who had improved the academic standing of the university in the last eight years.

“We will work tiredly to ensure that students get the needed resources and support to reach their full potential. For our faculty and staff it is your dedication and expertise which is the foundation of the university and so I look forward to working and supporting you to grow fortunes of the university.

“As an institution of reach we pledge to work with the new government to achieve its objective. We also pledge to produce graduates with employable skills that will be relevant to the country,” Prof Mawutor stated.

Induction 

He made these comments on Friday, December 27, 2024 after his induction as the vice chancellor of the UPSA at the university campus in Accra.

It was in the presence of a Deputy Minister of Deputy, John Ntim Fordjour; Chairman of UPSA Council, Dr Kofi Hene Konadu; outgoing Vice Chancellor; Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey; Chair of the Church of Pentecost Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye; Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey; clergy, traditional leaders, staff of the university and other dignitaries.

Leadership 

Prof Mawutor who is also an alumni of the university, stated that his leadership would be grounded on God Almighty and be guided by the His timeless principles and value.

“I see my role as a steward of your collective aspirations. My leadership will be grounded on GOD Almighty, and I stand here to pledge that there will be no middle ground,” he said.

He explained that over the past few years, the management of UPSA has taken significant steps towards the transformation of traditional teaching and learning systems to digitalizing its core, academic and administrative systems/processes into a sophisticated and user-friendly digital system. He said to leverage on this achievement, his strategic focus on information technology would ensure that students learn coding skills and develop at least a software application in their respective areas of study.

“Upgrade UPSA’s learning management system for greater efficiency, develop unique accounting software for UPSA financial operations.
Introduce artificial intelligence programmes and increase the number of online courses by 50 per cent,” he said.

Strategic partnership 

He said strategic partnership among universities and organisations were critical to the sustainability and, relevance of universities

He said such mutually beneficial collaborative relationships formed between two or more entities, typically organizations or businesses, with the aim of advancing-common goals take various forms and may involve collaboration in areas such as research and development, marketing, distribution. technology sharing, or joint ventures.

“To foster innovation hitherto driving growth and creating value for the participating entities, my strategic focus will dive into leveraging our,existing brand to influence and dominate partnership in the national and international ecosystem,” he said.

Profile 

Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor is an astute professional Accounting and Finance practitioner with over seventeen (17) years of experience in higher education and the financial sector. In September 2022, Governing Council appointed Dr. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor as the incoming Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) from January 2023.

As an Associate Professor of Accounting, his experience spans Governance, Accounting, and Finance. He has also served on several university statutory committees.

Currently, Prof. Mawutor’s research area focuses on capital flight in Ghana and Sub-Saharan African countries. He is also a passionate anti-corruption crusader. He is an Associate member of the Institute of Fraud Examiners (USA), a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG), and has been a member of the University’s Academic Board as well as a member of the Executive Committee.

Before his appointment as a Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mawutor served as the Dean of Graduates Studies for six years (2016-2022). Under his leadership, he collaborated with other faculties of the university community to develop and expand graduate programmes from nine (9) in 2016 to twenty-one (21) in 2022.