University of Tarkwa to be inaugurated in September

Tarkwa (W/R) July 17, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor will in September this year, inaugurate the University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) at Tarkwa in the Wassa West District of the Western Region. Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, Minister of Education and Sports, said this when he paid a working visit to the University on Friday, as part of his three-day tour of the region.

He said the educational institution must be equipped with the latest technologies and equipment to enable it produce experts for the mining sector.

The Minister, therefore, called on mining companies operating in the district, to assist the University to acquire the requisite equipment and textbooks to facilitate teaching and learning in UMAT. Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, Vice Chancellor of the University, said UMAT would require funds for the rehabilitation of some facilities and the construction of hostels, laboratories and provision of teaching and learning materials.

He said the University had acquired land through the initiative of chiefs in the area for the expansion of the educational institution. Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said an eight-billion cedi library built with GETFUND money was not in use because of the lack of furniture. He, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Education and Sports, and other stakeholders for assistance.

Prof. Mireku-Gyimah said a multi-million cedi auditorium was under construction while the management of Ghana Manganese Company was building a 500-capacity students hostel for the University.