Accra: The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has held its third professorial inaugural lecture since attaining autonomous status in 2020, signifying the university's efforts and commitment to contributing to national development through research.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Bernard Afiik Akanpabadai Akanbang, a professor of Development Planning, delivered the lecture on the importance of effective Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) in achieving expected development outcomes. The lecture, held at the University campus in Wa, was on the theme: 'From Development Planning to Impact: Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for Development Effectiveness'.
Prof. Akanbang, who is the Dean, School of Graduate Studies at UBIDS, emphasised the centrality of M and E in achieving meaningful development outcomes and should, therefore, not be treated as optional in planning processes. "Monitoring and Evaluation is not just about data, it is about accountability and making sure that communities get what they deserve. Strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems is, therefore, not simply a technical reform-it is a governance imperative," he explained.
Drawing on his experience in the water and sanitation sector, Prof. Akanbang noted that monitoring systems that focus solely on data generation without 'evaluation use' cannot improve service delivery or sustainability. He advocated a shift towards 'evaluation use' where findings from monitoring systems are actively applied to inform policy, improve programme implementation, and enhance accountability.
He encouraged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to allocate part of their common funds to support effective M and E in the implementation of programmes and projects. The Professor further called for participatory approaches that involve stakeholders at all levels of programme implementation in the evaluation process to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
Prof. Emmanuel Derbile, the Vice-Chancellor of UBIDS, who chaired the event, described inaugural lectures as important academic exercises that provide a platform for professors to present their scholarly contributions and engage the wider community. He noted that universities play a critical role in enabling societies to interrogate knowledge and apply it to development challenges since research is linked to practical societal needs.
Prof. Derbile indicated that the theme of the lecture aligns with the University's mission of promoting impact-oriented research, noting that weak M and E systems remain a major constraint to effective development planning in Ghana. The inaugural lecture also profiled Prof. Akanbang's academic and professional journey, portraying him as having vested experience in development planning, monitoring and evaluation, and governance.
Prof. Akanbang has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Development Studies from the University of Ghana, a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. His research interests lie in development planning, with a focus on monitoring and evaluation.
Traditional leaders from the Upper East Region, members of the academic community, the clergy, students, and well-wishers, among others, attended the event to celebrate Prof. Akanbang on his academic achievements.