Accra, April 24, GNA - The maiden edition of the Journal of Business Research (JBR), published by the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS), to disseminate knowledge and research output to academia, industry and commerce was launched in Accra on Thursday. The JBR is an international journal that seeks to promote the dissemination of research findings in the fields of Management, Accounting, Marketing and other related disciplines to address issues of concern to businesses in developing countries. An Act of Parliament in 1999 (Act 566) changed the mandate of the Institute into a public higher Institution of learning that combines academic and professional business training, hence the birth of the journal to enable the Institute to contribute its wealth of experience and expertise to the academic and business community. A five year strategic plan from 2008 to 2012 of the IPS, a website and the Institute's anthem were also launched at the ceremony.

Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana, who launched the Journal, said it needed to be financially supported to meet international standards and make it sustainable. He said there was the need to promote research as a strategic tool for creating external visibility in business and professional education. Professor Aryeetey said the survival of the journal depended on how well topics were researched, peer-reviewed and made interesting to the reading public. He said: "By maintaining good quality through good research, the journal can withstand the competition with other good journals in Ghana, Africa and beyond."

Professor Aryeetey said some of the articles should be translated to suit the international partners where the need arose to make it one of the top business journals in the world. He urged the editorial board and staff to form partnership with other world renowned journals to learn from their experiences and enrich the output of the Journal. Professor Joshua Alabi, Acting Rector of the IPS, said the Journal contained a colossal wealth of knowledge useful for corporate organisations, policy planners, lecturers and students, among others. He expressed the hope that the journal would contribute to existing knowledge and help to solve practical business management problems.