Ho, Aug 15, GNA- Ghana Institute of Leadership and Development Studies (GILDS) a Ho-based informal educational institute has trained 28 middle level management personnel, in the dynamics of project management to fit the strategic needs of small and medium scale enterprises. The 10-week Executive Certificate course prepared participants, mainly Higher National Diploma holders to interpret, administer, co-ordinate and evaluate projects.

Mr Vincent Darkey-Mensah, Director of GILDS told the Ghana News Agency during the graduation ceremony that the course targeted the many otherwise viable businesses, which could collapse as result of poor handling.

He said many businesses lost clients because of the lack of transparency in their charging schemes and unprofessional handling of employees.

Mr Darkey-Mensah said some overcharge or undercharges their clients to stay below the bottom-line.

He said the vision of GILDS was to give opportunities to people whose qualifications or personal circumstances preclude them from access to the formal system for self-development. He said small and medium scale private sector enterprises held the key to national growth and must therefore have people with the needed management proficiencies to run them.

Mr Samuel Kwawukume, GILDS Deputy Director, said the institute had come to fill the vacuum of self-development opportunities in the Volta Region, which made it difficult for people to accept transfers to the place.

He said GILDS would soon begin self-development courses for some categories of the self-employed, including drivers and artisans. Mr Delali Kwami, a participant said the course had changed his perception about project management from a dreary job to that of a business-like integrated endeavour, which should put him ahead of others in the job market.

GUILDS, is also co-ordinating courses in Business Administration and Management Studies, Marketing and Sales Management and Human Resource Management.