The Office of Grants and Research (OGR), in collaboration with the IREX–CTY Project, has organised a two‑day training workshop aimed at strengthening grants financial management and enhancing institutional capacity across the University. The workshop brought together Principal Investigators, accountants, finance officers, procurement officials, administrators, and other professional staff involved in research management.
In opening the session, the Director of OGR, Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, emphasised that effective coordination among all stakeholders is essential to building a strong grants management culture that demonstrates value for money to funders. He noted that as KNUST advances its agenda of moving “from Excellence to Eminence,” rigorous grants stewardship and impactful research delivery remain central to achieving this strategic ambition.
The first day of the workshop provided a detailed introduction to the frameworks and systems underpinning grants financial management at KNUST. Dr. Owusu Acheampong, Deputy Finance Officer, outlined the University’s end‑to‑end grant management processes using the PANACEA accounting system and reaffirmed KNUST’s adherence to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). He highlighted how these structures support transparency, accountability, and global comparability—key requirements for sustaining research partnerships and attracting long‑term investment from international agencies.
Participants also benefited from two technical sessions focusing on budgeting and compliance requirements for sponsored projects. Mr. Amos Ato Eghan of OGR led a presentation on the principles of project budgeting, describing the budget as the legally binding financial blueprint of any grant. He explained the importance of allowable, allocable, reasonable, and consistent costs, and stressed the need for clear budget narratives and awareness of commonly ineligible expenses. This was followed by Mr. Emmanuel Ebo Ocran, Senior Accountant (Payroll), who guided participants through policies on effort allocation, staff compensation, and indirect cost rates. He demonstrated the practical application of these policies during proposal development and financial reporting, emphasising the need for strict compliance with approved institutional and funder‑specific guidelines.
The final presentation for the day, delivered by Mr. Kwame Adu‑Gyamfi of the Procurement Directorate, addressed procurement standards and the effective management of grant‑funded assets. Participants were taken through key provisions of the Public Procurement Act and recent amendments, as well as the University’s internal requirements for preparing procurement plans aligned with project budgets and timelines. He underscored the importance of securing all necessary authorisations before initiating procurement processes, including approvals from the Director of Procurement and, where applicable, the Ministry of Finance.
Day One concluded successfully with active engagement, practical case discussions, and renewed anticipation for the continuation of the workshop on Day Two.