Two recent incidents in Ghana have underscored the significance of effective handover in ensuring continuity and productivity in various organizations. The issue involving Ghanaian students on government scholarships in the United Kingdom raised concerns about the management of scholarship funds and payments to students. Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, Sabah Zita Benson, expressed concerns, while the former Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr Kingsley Agyemang, denied the allegations.
A viral video also surfaced, showing two education officers reportedly quarrelling over handover issues in the Amenfi West Municipality. The incident involved an outgoing school head who angrily claimed he had not formally handed over the school, its records, and responsibilities when the new headmaster began assuming duties. These incidents highlight a common organisational challenge: what happens when responsibility changes hands but information does not move with it?
The concept of handover involves the formal transfer of job knowledge, responsibilities, and resources from one employee to another. According to research, handover is crucial in ensuring continuity and productivity in various organizations. In healthcare, proper handover can be critical to continuity of care. When a doctor or nurse fails to communicate a patient’s condition, treatment, and other important information to the colleague taking over, the consequences can be serious.
A study conducted by Atinga, Gmaligan, Ayawine, and Yambah in 2024, titled ‘examining handover events from nurses’ experiences in two referral hospitals in Ghana’, reinforces the importance of effective handover communication in healthcare. The study found that communication gaps were influenced by several factors, including the lack of formal handover communication procedures. This highlights the need for organizations to establish clear handover procedures.
In Ghana, the lack of effective handover has resulted in significant challenges for organizations. A colleague once shared an experience where an employee left an organisation without notice and travelled abroad, leaving no handover note. Management was left with numerous questions, including what had been completed, what was outstanding, and where important documents were located. It took weeks to piece the information together.
The importance of handover was also emphasised by the writer’s experience during basic school days. Whenever prefects were leaving office, there was a formal ceremony where responsibilities were transferred to incoming prefects. Information was shared, and expectations were outlined. However, this level of seriousness is not always practised in some workplaces in Ghana, where employees sometimes leave positions without properly handing over, while others take up new responsibilities without receiving sufficient information from their predecessors.
Experts stress that handover is not just an administrative issue but a critical component of organisational productivity. Effective handover ensures that critical information is transferred when responsibility moves from one officer or administration to another. Organizations in Ghana must prioritize handover to prevent communication gaps and ensure continuity of work.
Key points
- Effective handover is crucial for organisational productivity and continuity.
- Lack of formal handover procedures can lead to communication gaps and significant challenges.
- Handover is critical in healthcare, where it can impact patient care and outcomes.
