An evaluation of staff training and development in Bank of Ghana at the Tamale branch

Abstract

The study set out to evaluate the staff development and training policy of the Bank of Ghana. A descriptive and cross-sectional survey was adopted to study 47 employees of the Tamale Branch of Bank of Ghana. The categories of staff studied covered employees from Banking, Issue, Research, General Service, and Administration. These groups comprised the sources of primary data for the study. The completed questionnaires were subjected to reliability test using SPSS version 16. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and Kruskal-Wallis H Test, were used to analyse the data. It was shown that the contribution of training programmes to staff performance was identified to manifest in the improvement of skills and knowledge, performance avenue to acquire new technology, improvement of performance, and creation of promotion opportunities. Training methods used were found to be relevant to staff training needs, and this fostered teamwork and cooperation, encouraged good communication and discussions among trainees. However, enough time was not given for training sessions and for feedback. Challenges which trainees faced during the training programmes related to travelling, late notification, little or no preparation of trainees, choice of course materials, short course period, and little time for breaks. The study recommended decentralising the training programmes to branch levels, extension of training period, lessening of course content, breaking lessons into phases, giving early notifications, providing more training facilities, and ensuring that enough time is given for breaks.