Accra, June 24, GNA – Dr Joseph Ebow Bannerman, an academic and renowned Consultant, says his book, « The CONSULTANT, » is a manual for the younger generation who wants to venture into the business of consulting.
The book, whose content is detailed in his professional experiences and career, spanning over several decades and documentary research was launched as a duty of giving back to society.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the launch, Dr Bannerman, said, » the idea behind this book is to help those who want to be in that kind of business, know how best to handle that aspect of the business. This is a kind of manual for young people who go into consulting. »
He said pragmatic illustrations and examples in the book would serve as templates and in the appendixes, there is some guidance on how to negotiate and handle contracts and write proposals.
Others are using consultant cycle approach starting from business development through to contract execution and this would help make the young ones productive.
The 310-page document contains some thought-provoking experiences that could be found in appendixes 12 and 17.
Dr Bannerman told the Agency that his motivation to put together such a document in a seemingly new vocation, consultancy is based on the premise that the State had played a role in shaping them back in the university.
« The State has spent some money on some of us, we had education a little easy and after university things were rosy. And so, we need to give back to society, » he stated.
The event brought together technocrats, people from academia, diplomats and eminent personalities including Prof. Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, former Supreme Court Justice and Mr Kwame Mpianim, an Economist.
In reviewing the book, Mr Mpianim, described appendix 17 as the most fantastic, adding that « every executive who relied on good communication, report writing, unambiguous contracts could benefit from the wisdom scattered in the book. »
He said Ghana could have created more jobs in the agriculture, railways if the State had implemented 10 per cent of what Plan Consult did.
Prof Justice Samuel Date-Bah, Chairperson for the launch, in his remarks said, commended Dr Bannerman for adhering to their old conviction of transferring the knowledge acquired through their careers with the support of the State.
He said consulting is a relatively new profession in Ghana and « THE CONSULTANT » would play a critical role in highlighting it and serving as a practical guide for the profession.
The Forward of the book was written by Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, and the first few copies were bought at GH₵ 5,000 each
