The Wellness Centre at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, organised a workshop aimed at reducing work-related stress for all staff under the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar's Offices. The meeting dubbed, ‘Reducing Work-related Stress in the Workplace’ brought together staff from the General Administration, Finance Office, Internal Audit Department, and University Relations Office (URO) to explore strategies for enhancing workplace wellbeing and productivity.
Mr. Gibiridu Oppong, the Junior Assistant Registrar at the Affiliations Office, in his welcome address, noted that the primary objective of the workshop was to provide staff with valuable insights and practical strategies for managing and alleviating stress. He revealed that the sessions aimed to identify stressors faced by staff members and propose effective solutions to mitigate them, fostering a healthier and more supportive work environment. The workshop featured two main sessions led by experts in stress management and physical wellness.
Ms. Akua Afriyie Addae, the Head of Training, and Internships at the KNUST Counselling Centre, presented stress, its causes, effects, and various methods to reduce it. Ms. Addae emphasised the importance of recognizing stressors and addressed how stress impacts both mental and physical health. In an interactive session, participants were divided into groups according to their respective units to discuss specific stressors and suggest potential solutions. Ms. Addae facilitated these discussions, encouraging active participation and allowing group leaders to present their findings. She assured participants that feasible solutions would be implemented immediately at the unit level, while more complex issues would be addressed by university authorities. Her engaging session instilled confidence in the Wellness team’s commitment to implementing meaningful changes based on the identified stressors.
The second session was led by Mr. Reagan Sarpong, a Fitness Coach from the Sports Directorate. He conducted a dynamic 20-minute aerobics session, demonstrating simple exercises that staff could perform in their offices to alleviate stress. Assisted by Mr. Frank Appau, Mr. Sarpong engaged the attendees in an interactive and energizing session that was enthusiastically received.
