The newly constituted Governing Council of Valley View University (VVU) has been officially inducted into office with a firm charge to uphold institutional mission, ensure financial viability and maintain a clear distinction between policy oversight and day-to-day management.
A day-long orientation workshop in the Columbia Conference Room on the university’s Oyibi campus brought together the new team of council members for intensive training on their roles as custodians of one of Ghana’s pioneering private universities.
The session was led by the Director of Education for the General Conference System of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Dr Lisa Beardsley, who emphasised that such training, conducted at the start of every five-year council term, was crucial for aligning new members with global best practices in academic governance.
“Everything the council does is to support the learning experience of the students, their responsibility is to be custodians of the mission of the institution this involves financial oversight, academic oversight, and ensuring that all policies contribute to the ultimate health and well-being of our students,” Dr Beardsley told the council members.
Foundation principles
She outlined the foundational principles of board membership, namely the duty of loyalty and the duty of care, urging members to act as parents of the institution to create an environment in which students can thrive.
She further warned against conflicts of interest, urging members to prioritise the university’s business above personal gain.
Dr Beardsley also took the opportunity to commend the VVU for its leadership in sustainability, describing it as a pioneer among Adventist institutions globally.
Professionals and academia
Providing further context on the composition of the new council, the Vice Chancellor of the Valley View University Professor Daniel Ganu, revealed that it comprised a blend of professionals from both industry and academia.
He revealed that the members included human resources expert Dr Stella Ejenimfoati, Dr Stephen Ameya from the Sunyani Technical University, businessman Governor Holman, and Dr Patricia Asamoah Gyafu-Singh from KNUST, alongside a representative of the Student Representative Council (SRC).
Professor Ganu stressed that a key objective of the training was to delineate the council’s roles from those of management clearly.
“Their mandate is to approve policies, academic programmes and senior staff appointments.
They must know their level and understand that they are here for governance, not management,” he explained.
He added that the council members were tasked with maintaining strict confidentiality and ensuring their decisions were driven solely by the institution’s best interests.
“As the first accredited and chartered private university in Ghana, we are a premier institution.
We are a mission-driven Christian university that takes discipline very seriously.
We train our students holistically—academically, socially, physically and spiritually—preparing them to be well-rounded and ready for the job market,’ he stated.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh