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Government to establish University of Energy and Natural
Resources in Brong Ahafo
Sunyani (BAR), March 4, Ghanadot/GNA – Mr
Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on
Wednesday reaffirmed government’s commitment to upgrade the
Faculty of Forest Resource Technology (FFRT) of Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST),
Sunyani Campus into a fully fledged University of Energy and
Natural Resources in Brong Ahafo.
Addressing students at the maiden annual homecoming of past
students of the Faculty, he said it was still a priority of
President John Evans Atta Mills to honour his campaign
promise of establishing the university before the end of his
tenure of office and asked them to exercise restraint.
The four-day programme being participated by more than 80
past students’ nation-wide under the theme: “The Role of
Government and Individuals in Greening Ghana” is to form an
alumnus to augment government’s effort to undertake
development projects at the Faculty.
Mr Nyamekye Marfo noted that establishment of the university
was very vital for the development of the Region, adding
“available statistics indicates that about 800 years ago,
Ghana had about 800 million hectares of forest reserve but
has now been reduced to two million hectares.”
He attributed the problem mainly to negative practices and
people’s behaviour such as illegal tree felling, bushfires,
irresponsible mining and encroachment of forest reserve.
Mr Nyamekye Marfo called on the law enforcement agencies to
enforce forest conservation and preservation laws to keep
the greening Ghana project on track.
Mr Joe R. Ackah, Brong Ahafo Regional Zonal Plantations
Manager of Forestry Commission said about GH¢161,640 for the
past two years had been disbursed to various agencies to pay
for seedlings supplied, logistics and launching of the
greening Ghana initiative, to create awareness on growing
trees and management among the people.
He said so far, 4,600,000 tree seedlings including mango,
cassia, teak and milletia had been supplied to individuals,
churches and educational institutions for planting between
2007 and 2008.
Mr Ackah said challenges facing the initiative were
non-protection of planted tree seedlings “against browsing
animals”, improper care to tree seedlings at the nursery
stage and called for greater involvement and participation
of civil society organisations.
Mr Eric Amoadu Boateng, Student Representative Council (SRC)
President said the Faculty would set up a campus radio
station for education and dissemination of information to
students and the public.
He said in addition, the SRC would solicit for funding for
projects at the Faculty and appealed to management of Ghana
Education Trust Fund (GET Fund) to assist them with means of
transport and building of a science laboratory.
Mr Boateng called on government to expedite action to
upgrade the Faculty as University of Energy and Natural
Resources to attain an autonomous status from KNUST.
Mr Anthony Agyapong, Assistant Registrar of the Faculty said
lack of library facilities, internet connectivity, offices
for staff and inadequate classrooms were some of the
problems facing the Faculty and appealed to government,
philanthropist and corporate bodies for assistance.
Mr William Baah, Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of Forest
Services Division, urged the student to strive for success
by being objective and innovative notwithstanding the
problems confronting the Faculty to achieve their individual
aims.
GNA |
