Polytechnic launches endowment fund

Sunyani (B/A), May 17, GNA - The Sunyani Polytechnic Chapter of the Association of Polytechnic Accountancy Students at the weekend raised more than 30 million cedis in pledges and cash at the launch of its endowment fund in Sunyani.

The fund would be used for the construction of a computer laboratory estimated at 600 million cedis.

The launch coincided with the sod-cutting ceremony for the commencement of the project.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included, Mr. J.H. Mensah, Senior Minister and MP for Sunyani East, Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and MP for Sunyani West and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Akrofi Asiedu, Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander.

Wiseman Kusi Appiah, Sunyani Municipal director of Education, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah and Nana Kumi Achiaw II, Kyidomhene of Dormaa Traditional Area and Chief of Abesim.

In a welcoming address, Mr. Akwasi Afrifa-Mensa, Chapter President, said the association aimed at uniting and educating accountancy students on current accounting practices through seminars, symposia and other related programmes.

He explained that the computer laboratory would enable the students to have computer-based accounting training, so that the accountant could handle volume of work within minutes.

Mr. Afrifa-Mensa expressed regret about the uncertainty of job placement and academic progression of polytechnics and appealed to the government, stakeholders, university authorities and others to act on the problem.

"We cannot contribute effectively and efficiently to national development if we continue to face uncertainty in academic progression, improper placement on the job market, inadequate infrastructure and non-fulfilment of lecturers' better service conditions," he added. The Chapter President appealed to industries, financial institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to extend their assistance to universities and other institutions to polytechnics. The Senior Minister, Mr. Mensah, pledged 25 million cedis for the start of the project, while Mr. Adjei-Darko also pledged 100 bags of cement and one million cedis.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Baffour-Awuah, announced that Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, Minister of Education, had pledged to provide the laboratory with computers.

Nana Kumi-Achiaw who represented Osagyefo Oseedeayo Agyeman Badu II, Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, announced a pledge of one million cedis by the paramount chief in support of the project. In a keynote address, the Principal of the Polytechnic, Dr. Kwasi Nsiah Gyabaah, gave assurance that the money would be used for the intended purpose.

Nana Kumi-Achiaw later cut the sod for the commencement of the project.