Abetifi campus of Presby University opens in October

Accra, July 5, GNA - The Abetifi Campus of the Presbyterian University College (PUC) would open next October. Professor Sraku Lartey, Principal of the University College, said it would admit the first batch of students immediately the National Accreditation Board (NAB) inspected facilities at the end of this month. He was speaking in Accra on Saturday at a ceremony to raise five billion cedis in aid of the Akuapem Campus project estimated at 75 billion cedis. Prof Lartey praised the healthy competition among the Presbyterian communities in at Kwahu Abetifi, Akuapem and Asante Akyem where the University would have campuses to have their projects first and said, "When the time comes, we will go to where the ground is fertile". He said the Presbyterian Church was rural based, adding that, establishing campuses in rural areas was calculated attempt to "take tertiary education to the doorsteps of the rural folk".

Prof Lartey said infrastructure such as Administration block, accommodation and furnished offices had been provided at the Abetifi Campus for the early take off of the university. He said only land had been acquired for the Akuapem Campus at Akropong Akuapem, with branches at Apirade, Awukugua and Brekuso and explained that the ceremony was to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church to ensure the take-off of the University in October 2004. PUC was seeking affiliation with the University of Ghana and would engage experts to form a nucleus of science teachers to handle a Computer Engineering course.

It would also establish a School of Medical Sciences at Agogo, Asante Akyem, which would use facilities of the Presbyterian Hospital in the town. Professor Edwin A Gyasi of the Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, called for more public support for university education to solve the socio-economic problems to move the country forward. He stressed the need to encourage long essays, theses and other forms of research focusing on burning issues to enhance the development planning process. "Some of such research projects could productively focus on resolution of chieftaincy disputes in Akuapem, so as to stabilise the socio-political situation to facilitate concerted development programmes".

Prof Gyasi proposed the introduction of a "University Education Finishing Touch" to correct deficiencies in spoken English and to rejuvenate cultural and social etiquette and manners, targeted at young graduates actively in employment and those entering the job market. The Reverend Charles Ahwireng, Chairperson of the Akuapem Presbytery, said the Presbyterian Church of Ghana had directed that 30 per cent of offertory, should be should be set aside for a fund for the establishment of the Akuapem Campus. He said a similar function would soon be organised at Kumasi, United Kingdom and the United States to solicit support.

Osahene Ofei Agyemang IV, Krontihene of Akuapem, on behalf of the Okuapehene, Oseadeyo Addo Dankwa, pledged support and called on Okuapeman citizens to throw their weight behind the project. Asesiesohene Obuadum Kusi Ameyaw said he had donated a 50-acre land to the Akuapem Campus of the PUC for the development of one of its faculties. More than 63 million cedis in cash and pledges were realised.