University develops campus

Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has cut the sod for work to begin on the development of the main campus of University College for Community and Organisational Development (UCCOD ) at Ayakomaso in Sunyani West District.

Work on the first of phase of the GHc4 million project, expected to be completed in 11 months, comprises administration block, library and ICT center, classrooms and hostel facilities.

Temporarily located at Pastoral Center in Sunyani, UCCOD offers comprehensive range of training services to industries, entrepreneurs as well as individuals to improve organization’s effectiveness and management.

Mr Adjei said the Brong-Ahafo Region was endowed with abundant natural resources and added that he was optimistic the university would play a leading role in helping to tap such resources, add value and transform them into finished products for export especially.

He said since the country reached middle lower income, many of its development partners and donor agencies had withdrawn grants and other services and it ought to find other alternatives in developing its local content.

Mr Adjei expressed regret that quantities of fruits such as mangoes, watermelon and pineapple which could be processed into juice got rotten in farms every year.

Dr Ahmed Nuhu, Chairman of the Council of the University, commended the chiefs and people of Awuah Dumase for releasing the land for the project.

He said any country that placed priority on the development of its human base grew fast and advised students in the area to take the opportunity to study hard to be admitted into the college.

Dr Nuhu said students from the area had certain privileges in gaining admission into the university and called on parents to invest in the education of their children.

Mr Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu, the President of UCCOD, said it had faculties in Organizational Development, Community Development and Behavior Science.

He said many young entrepreneurs lacked courage, skills, competencies, required leadership outlook and entrepreneurship intelligence to enable them start their own businesses.

“If they are trained, mentored and coached with organizational development approach, they will have the bright future of developing their own businesses and companies and sustaining them as well”, he said.

Mr Benarkuu said affiliated to the University of Development Studies, UCCOD had created opportunities for traditional leaders, human resource practitioners, heads of departments, civil society organisations, auditors, politicians, and financial institutions to pursue organizational development.