The Forestry Commission (FC) has organised a 2-day conference for its Human Resource Department (HR) on the theme: “HR shaping the new Future” at the Institute of Local Government Studies, Accra.
The conference brought together all Human Resource managers and officers from the FC’s various offices across the country.
Participants were taken through human resource functions such as management performance, employee benefits, recruitment and training, salary structures, motivation among others.
Mr. Nyadia Sulemana Nelson, Deputy Chief Executive of the commission, who welcomed HR personnel to the conference on behalf of the Chief Executive, described the conference as a ‘great platform’ for HR practitioners to deliberate on critical roles of HR personnel of the FC.
He underscored the need for the human resource unit of organizations and institutions to prioritize the safety of its staff through the provision of appropriate working tools and equipment as well as continued training of staff.
Mr. Sulemana Nelson said mentorship is key to the development of every organization, adding that senior officers need to equip young graduates with the requisite professional skills to make them resourceful to fill top management positions through effective guidance and mentorship.
He identified salary grievances among organizational staff as one major challenge that HR personnel face in their daily duties and encouraged them to endeavor to come up with a proper wages structure to ensure a peaceful and productive working environment for all.
Dr. Edward Kwapong, former Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in his keynote address educated participants on how to use HR to manage and adopt into the “New Future”.
He also touched on Human Resource strategy based on HR understanding of activities of the various units and departments in alliance with the employee’s mindset and a future based on the technological revolution.
C. E. O. of the Forestry Commission, John Allotey, pointed out the need for the commission to manage its human resources well to be able to manage and protect the country’s forest and wildlife resources.
He argued that efforts by management would be a failure unless the people getting the work done are well taken care of.
He acknowledged that managing welfare, recruitment and training of staff is a difficult task which require that HR personnel established a corporate culture.
Mr. John Allotey on that note advised HR personnel to make conscious efforts to read wider and broaden their knowledge to become abreast with information in their lines of duty.