Central Region to get new University

Anomabu (C/R), Oct 5, GNA - A Post-Graduate University to be known as the Baobab University College (BUC) is to be established at Biriwa and Anomabo in the Central Reagion.

Amicus Onlus, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Italy is initiating the project which will initially offer post graduate programmes in Nursing, Epidemiology and Entrepreneurship. Reverend Father ceasar Atuire, President of Amicus Onlus, speaking at the ground breaking ceremony at Anomabo to commence work on the project said a 50-acre land had been acquired at Biriwa to house the main campus of the university.

He said BUC would adopt Fort Williams at Anomabo as one of its training centres and a resource centre.

Rev. Fr Atuire explained that the motive of involving the Fort in the project was to build on the sad memories of the past to create a better future.

"The fort which reminds us of sadness, bitterness and untoward memories of the past will now become a centre of hope, progress and restitution to Ghana and Africa; "the fort had been a place of death but through determination and unity we can make it a source of resurrection".

Rev Atuire said BUC would be affiliated and networked with reputable institutions in the world to make it a learning village for Africa.

Nana Ato Arthur Central Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, reiterated the government's commitment to provide affordable access to higher education to ensure that it did not become an asset for only a privileged few.

He said that the government therefore welcome development partners who would want to support it in that field.

Nana Arthur noted with concern that some of the country's universities were losing focus and thereby were not meeting their obligations to the nation.

Employers have complained time and again that our university graduates lacked the skill-mix expected by today's job market, he stated.

He held that, "Lecturers seemed more concerned about making publications to enhance their careers to paying attention to the pedagogy that will ensure that students develop skills that will not only enable them to compete favourably on the job market, but also make meaningful contributions to national development". Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive, who performed the ground breaking expressed regret that although the Central Region could boast of some best educational institutions in the country, its citizens were not making good use of them.