The Ho Polytechnic, in collaboration with the CERAD International and the Volta Region branch of the Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG) on Thursday outdoored its first locally manufactured Parabolic Satellite Dish at the Polytechnic.
The 1.6 metre Dish, which cost 2.5 million cedis could receive signals from CNN, TV3, CFI, Arab SAT (12 channels), Egypt, Angola and Argentina TV stations, among others.
Dr. George M. Afeti, Principal of the Ho Polytechnic, who commissioned the dish said with over 20 channels, it is functionally robust, extremely cost effective and as good as any on the market.
He said this technological feat was the result of a four-year partnership the Polytechnic established with CERAD International, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NG0).
This partnership, he said, is aimed at enhancing the technical and business management skills of local artisans and entrepreneurs.
Dr. Afeti noted that high technical knowledge and skills are necessary for achieving sustainable economic growth and better living standards. "Skills training is so important to national development that we need to devote much more resources than mere lip service to its promotion," he stressed.
Dr. Afeti said skills training is an indispensable element in the formation of a large corps of top-class experts, "rather than as a glorified terminology for vocational training".
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr. Edoh Edjossan secretary-general of CERAD said the NGO, which operates in Togo, Benin and Ghana, is committed to improving the skills of local artisans.
This, they do through training, research, exchange programmes and promotion of products through trade fairs. An important feature about the dish is its unlimited free access and non-payment of fees to satellite service providers.
Mr. Stephen K. Bokor, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department of Ho Polytechnic said important strides are achieved when ideas and expertise in the informal skills training sector and technological institutions are harnessed.
Mr. Victor Klutse, one of the artisans who participated in the manufacture of the dish, on behalf of his colleagues thanked CERAD and the Ho Polytechnic for their assistance.
They pledged to maintain high standards in the manufacture of more of the parabolic satellite dishes for the domestic market.
