President Mahama inspects science lab project at UTAS

On the first day of his two-day #ResettingGhana Tour of the Upper East Region, President John Dramani Mahama inspected the construction of an ultra-modern, multi-complex science laboratory at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Navrongo.

UTAS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Albert Luguterah, led the President around the facility.

President Mahama said construction of the facility began in 2016 but criticised the stalled progress over the subsequent eight years under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, describing the delay as a waste of taxpayers’ money already invested in the project.

President Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending the culture of abandoned national projects.

“Once we returned to office, based on our policy of completing abandoned projects, this project was included in the inventory. We have provided funding for the work to resume, and I am happy to see the project progressing again,” the President stated.

He expressed optimism that the facility would be fully operational by next year, providing students with a first-class laboratory to enhance teaching, learning, and research in science-related programmes.

Responding to infrastructure requests from Prof. Luguterah, President Mahama directed the Minister for Roads and Highways to prioritise the tarring of a five-kilometre stretch of internal roads on the university’s campus.

Additionally, the President assured the university leadership of the government’s support for the establishment of a medical school at UTAS.

“We want as many universities as possible to train doctors so that we can have enough medical professionals to serve our country and, where possible, support other nations,” President Mahama added.