The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) in collaboration with the Patient-Centered Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) project, has organized a workshop on safeguarding for faculty representatives.

The workshop aimed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to address safeguarding issues within their faculties. Sessions focused on assessing vulnerabilities, identifying safeguarding concerns, recognizing unwanted behaviours in the workplace, overcoming barriers to reporting, and responding to safeguarding scenarios.

Professor Daniel Ansong, Safeguarding Lead of the PACTS Project, said the workshop was designed to empower university staff with practical safeguarding knowledge.

“This workshop is being organized for all KNUST staff to train trainers who will promote the University’s safeguarding policy,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for every member of the university community.

“We want staff to be aware of the need to safeguard their community their students and their colleagues so that everyone works in an environment that is safe and inclusive,” he added.

Professor Imelda Bates, Overall Principal Investigator of the PACTS Project from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, highlighted the importance of putting effective safeguarding structures in place and understanding how to respond when concerns arise.

“The whole university must have systems in place to make sure everybody feels safe,” she said. “If any safeguarding concerns arise or you see them happening, you need to know what to do.”

Professor Bates underscored that safeguarding is a shared responsibility across the institution.

“Everybody in the university needs to be involved in safeguarding not just researchers or lecturers. Administrators and all other members who make the university function also have a role to play,” she said.