AMA trains staff on employee well-being, anger management and workplace productivity

Story by: Regina Bless

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has organised a training workshop for its staff to promote employee well-being, strengthen anger management skills and improve workplace productivity.

The training, held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, focused on the importance of Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and how personal challenges, emotional distress and uncontrolled anger can affect employees’ relationships, performance and overall contribution to the Assembly.

Speaking at the workshop, the facilitator, Mr. Emmanuel Acquah, Esq., described employees as some of the most valuable assets of every organisation, stressing that their welfare and professional development are essential to organisational growth.

He explained that although employees may possess the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to perform their duties, personal and emotional challenges can prevent them from achieving their full potential. Such challenges, he noted, could negatively affect attendance, concentration, motivation and productivity.

Mr. Acquah highlighted that Employee Assistance Programmes provide guidance, counselling and support to workers experiencing difficulties that may affect their personal well-being and professional performance.

He identified key areas covered by EAPs, including mental and emotional health support, short-term counselling, crisis intervention, work-life balance, parenting guidance, as well as legal and financial wellness assistance.

He urged the Assembly to prioritise employee welfare, emphasising that investing in the well-being of staff and management is a strategic approach to achieving organisational objectives and improving institutional performance.

The workshop also addressed anger management, with Mr. Acquah explaining that anger is a natural human emotion, but the way individuals respond to it can significantly affect their relationships and professional conduct.

He encouraged participants to identify their anger triggers, understand their emotional reactions and adopt appropriate strategies to manage disagreements without allowing conflicts to escalate.

Practical techniques discussed included thinking before speaking, taking time to reflect before reacting, deep breathing, taking a time-out and practising positive self-talk.

Staff were encouraged to apply these techniques in their daily interactions with colleagues, supervisors and subordinates to promote mutual respect, effective communication and healthier workplace relationships.

The facilitator further cautioned that uncontrolled anger could undermine teamwork and result in conduct that violates the Assembly’s conditions of service and code of conduct.

He also encouraged participants to share their experiences, allowing the use of local languages, including Ga and Twi, to ensure broader participation and understanding.

The Head of Human Resources at the AMA, Madam Evelyn Owusu, also urged employees to take their annual leave seriously and make their health and personal well-being a priority.

She recommended that only one employee from a particular unit proceed on leave at a time, rather than having two staff members from the same unit absent simultaneously, to ensure the smooth continuation of work.

The programme forms part of the Assembly’s ongoing capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening staff development, promoting employee welfare and creating a healthier, more supportive and productive working environment.