The Registrar of Takoradi Technical University, Dr. Moses McLean Abnory, has authored a series of books aimed at strengthening governance, leadership and management practices within Ghana’s tertiary education sector.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show with host Winston Amoah, Dr. Abnory said the publications were motivated by the need to provide locally grounded knowledge to guide the administration and development of universities in Ghana.

Three of the books — “History of Universities,” “University Governance and Leadership in Ghana,” and “University Management and Operations in Ghana” — are scheduled to be launched on Tuesday, March 10, at the auditorium of the Takoradi Technical University.

They add to two earlier works, “Human Relations in Ghanaian Organisations” and “Organisational Development and Management.”

According to Dr. Abnory, the earlier books focused on the human element in organisations, which he described as central to national development.

“After completing my studies at the University of Ghana around 2000, it dawned on me that our development agenda will be difficult to achieve if we do not pay attention to the human factor,” he said.

He explained that Ghana’s diverse social and ethnic landscape makes effective human relations critical in workplaces and institutions.

“I looked at how relationships — whether between superiors and subordinates or among colleagues — can either strengthen or weaken productivity in organisations,” he said.

Building on that foundation, the book “Organisational Development and Management” explores how institutions can structure themselves to maximise performance once human relations are properly managed.

Dr. Abnory said the latest publications extend the discussion to the university system, which he described as a key driver of national development.

He noted that many reference materials on university systems are largely foreign-focused, creating a gap in locally relevant scholarship.

“If you do not understand where you are coming from, any path can lead you anywhere,” he said. “We realised that most of the materials that guide us are foreign-centred, so we decided to develop a Ghanaian-focused perspective on the history and development of universities.”

The book “History of Universities” traces the evolution of higher education from ancient institutions to the emergence of universities in Africa and Ghana, including the development of institutions such as the University of Ghana and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Dr. Abnory said the work provides historical context to help academics and administrators better understand the current university system and its future direction.

The second book, “University Governance and Leadership in Ghana,” examines governance structures within tertiary institutions and the leadership responsibilities required to ensure effective management.

Dr. Abnory noted that governance challenges in universities can undermine their role in national development.

“Universities are complex institutions with highly intelligent professionals across different faculties,” he said.

“Leadership must be able to coordinate these capabilities effectively in order to achieve the institution’s goals.”

The third publication, “University Management and Operations in Ghana,” focuses on the administrative and operational structures that keep universities functioning.

Dr. Abnory explained that many academics eventually assume administrative roles without sufficient understanding of the institutional structures that support university operations.

“A lecturer may begin his career focusing on teaching, research and community service, but within a few years he may become a head of department or take on other administrative responsibilities,” he said.

The book therefore seeks to simplify and explain key administrative systems within universities, including areas such as quality assurance, procurement, human resource management and general administration.

According to him, the goal is to provide a practical reference for academics and administrators who may be called upon to manage departments or units within the university system.

Dr. Abnory said the books are intended for a wide audience, including university administrators, lecturers, policymakers and students interested in higher education governance and management.

He expressed the hope that the publications would contribute to strengthening the governance and operational efficiency of tertiary institutions in Ghana.