In a groundbreaking move to advance Human Resource (HR) Management in Ghana, the University of Ghana (UG) and the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana (CIHRMG), have launched the country’s first-ever Professorial Chair in Human Resource Management.

The launch, held on Tuesday, May 13 at the University of Ghana Business School, brought together academia, industry leaders, policymakers, students, and the media.

The initiative is set to bridge the gap between theory and practice in HR, driving research, shaping policy, and supporting national development priorities.

Dr. Ellen Hagan, Chair of the Fundraising Committee and a respected voice in the HR sector, delivered the keynote address. She emphasized that the Chair is more than an academic milestone.

“This is about harnessing brainpower and resources to reshape how we manage people in Ghana. Without effective HR, no organization or country can truly thrive,” she said.

Dr. Hagan highlighted the Chair’s potential to produce contextually relevant research, influence HR policy, and uplift professional standards across public and private sectors.

She noted the alignment with Ghana’s recognition of HR as a chartered profession, calling the initiative “long overdue.”

She urged all stakeholders to take ownership: “This Chair is not a symbolic gesture it’s a critical lever for driving leadership and development across Ghana.”

The President of the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Mrs. Florence Hutchful, also addressed the gathering, linking effective HR management directly to economic growth and national productivity.

She pointed to ongoing challenges in workplace ethics and performance and called for urgent reforms.

“At a recent forum, the President himself raised concerns about workplace behavior and ethics. This reflects a deeper issue we must confront and this Chair is a timely and strategic response,” she said.

Mrs. Hutchful outlined CIHRMG’s broader plans, including the rollout of national HR standards and renewed emphasis on ethical conduct. “We must build capacity with both competence and character,” she stressed.

Adding to the significance of the event, Professor Obi Damoah, Head of the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management at UGBS, described the launch as a historic turning point.

“This Professorial Chair is just the beginning of a broader collaboration between CIHRMG and the University of Ghana. Now is the time for all of us to contribute and make it impactful,” he concluded.