President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday gave the assurance that government would continue to empower the Ghana Institute for Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) to train more professionals.

He said GIMPA had over the years built the capacities of professionals within the country and beyond, and the government would support the Institution to increase that feat to benefit more professionals in Africa.

President Mahama gave the assurance at the 12th congregation of GIMPA during which the graduates received certificates from Post-graduate courses, Bachelors, Diplomas and Certificates in various courses.

Among the graduates was Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, first lady, who received a Master’s certificate in Governance and Leadership.

The GIMPA, which was established in 1961 as a joint Ghana Government/United Nations special project, and later handed over to the government of Ghana in 1966, is now accredited by the National Accreditation Board to run five schools.

The schools are ;Business School, School of Governance and Leadership, Law School, School of Technology and the Public Service School.

President Mahama commended the management of the GIMPA for establishing the Law school, which he said would complement the efforts of other existing schools to train more Lawyers to take up legal positions in the country.

He appealed to Law students to accept postings to the public service and other areas that their services would be needed when they complete their training.

The President commended GIMPA for introducing the tremendous training programmes and and asked the Institution to venture into other areas that would help accelerate national development.

Professor Franklyn Manu, Rector of the Institute, said the quality assurance, accreditation and standards unit of the office the international programmes is now placed under the office of the Deputy Rector to ensure quality of service.

He said GIMPA had also created a Development Office under which facilities and infrastructure projects would be administered.

The Rector announced that in November this year, GIMPA was elected for two year-term to chair the African Management Development Institute Network, a network of public sector organizations under the umbrella of the African Union.

Prof. Manu also announced the institution of two scholarships; Yaw Agyeman Badu and Anna Jane Awo-Ashong Anim, for the best male and female graduate students with the highest grade point in the institute