|
University of Ghana hold congregation
Accra, March 10, Ghanadot/GNA - The Minister of Education,
Science and Sports, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, on Saturday urged
the authorities of the University of Ghana and the student
body to collaborate to fashion out appropriate security
measures that would make the school a safe haven for
teaching and learning.
He said, "If the campus is not safe, then the nation will
suffer for that, therefore all hands must be on deck to
ensure that the recent unfortunate development that created
tension on campus is put to rest".
Papa Owusu-Ankumah, who was speaking at the Congregation of
the University of Ghana, assured government's continuous
support to the school, which is a centre of academic
excellence.
He noted that there was the need to raise the level of the
scientific and technological base of the country.
This he said could be done through the reform of the
educational system to produce quality students in the area
of science and technology and who are also culturally sound.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah indicated that in todays globalise world,
students must be re-oriented to become problem solvers
rather than being repository of knowledge.
The Minister urged the students to place their knowledge at
the service of the nation, saying education is the
acquisition of knowledge and values that prepared students
to exhibit creativity and entrepreneurial skills.
Papa Owusu-Ankoma emphasised on the need for the university
to explore alternative sources of revenue to augment
government allocation to help provide certain basic
facilities.
He congratulated the authorities for the various projects
being undertaken, particularly accommodation for the
lecturers.
Papa Owusu Ankoma urged the university to fashion out a
system that would make people benefit from distant
education, adding that it would open up avenues for other
students to have access to education.
He said the world is fast becoming a place where knowledge
was gradually supplanting physical capital as a source of
wealth and that a country's wealth of knowledge determined
its level of economic success.
He expressed his gratitude to the lecturers and workers of
the University for their dedication, sacrifice and tireless
efforts having worked under very trying conditions.
The Minister assured the university authorities of
government's commitment to stick to the road map in salary
enhancement for teachers to have decent wages.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, said the
major difficulty the University continues to face was
attracting young academics to the faculty to replace those
retiring, despite the improved conditions of service of the
University.
He therefore called on government to introduce packages that
would make working in the University very attractive to
encourage young graduates into lecturing.
Prof Tagoe said series of projects were on going and that
the university would do its best to raise sufficient funds
to completion them.
The Vice Chancellor said the University had instituted a
scheme that awards the less endowed students who gain
admission into the school.
He said so far 578 students have benefited from the scheme
since it inception and over ¢455 Million Cedis committed.
Prof Tagoe said with the assistance of the Security
Committee, new strategies have been drawn up to ensure
security on campus, and entreated students to comply with
the new routines.
He also called on the graduates to make their mark wherever
they might find themselves and to use the education and
training they have acquired as a stepping-stone to propel
themselves to greater heights.
Prof Tagoe announced that next year (2008) the University of
Ghana would celebrate its sixtieth anniversary and called on
all to participate.
In a remark, Miss Harriet Afi Hevi, a First Class graduate,
on behalf of her colleagues thanked God for being their
source of strength and inspiration throughout their stay and
study on campus as well as the lecturers and staff of the
University for nurturing them to achieve their present
height.
Mr. D.K. Shadow, a lecturer, was given an award for
Meritorious Service to the university, while Prof J R A Ayee
Dean of Humanities Department took the Best Teacher Award.
The best Science lecturer award went to Dr. Merley Afua
Newman-Nartey, while the Best Worker Award went to Ms Grace
Annoh of the Academic Affairs Directorate.
In all 6,652 students at all the levels graduated for the
2005 and 2006 academic year.
GNA.
|
