The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, has applauded the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) for its decision to establish a medical school to train more doctors to augment the health needs of the population.
He said the graduates of the proposed Medical School would not only serve the three regions, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions, but also serve towns and communities along the Western corridor of the country.
Speaking at the fourth congregation of UENR at Sunyani last Satrurday, the President noted that the current doctor to patient ratio 1:8000 and this, he explained was woefully inadequate to meet Universal Health Care.
President Akufo-Addo however, cautioned the specialised University not to digress from its core mandates to provide higher education, disseminate knowledge and undertake research related to energy and natural resources for national development.
Touching on efforts to address infrastructural challenges bedeviling the educational sector, President Nana Addo said government was currently undertaking a comprehensive programme to expand infrastructural projects at various tertiary institutions to enhance teaching and learning.
The programme, he said when completed was expected to meet the demands of about 1.2 million Free Senior High School graduates who are expected to seek tertiary education in the years to come.
The President said government would continue to initiate policies and programmes to enhance capacities of graduates to equip them to contribute to national development.
He later announced that 5km access road to the University of Energy and Natural Resources had been awarded on contract at cost of GH¢7.9million and work would commence at the end of the month.
The President also commended the governing council of the University for its Decision to rename the University after Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia Ghana’s former Prime Minister in the Second Republic who was overthrown in a military coup in 1972.
He described the decision by the governing council which is subject to parliamentary approval as an excellent one noting that Professor Busia, an illustrious son of Wenchi in the Bono Region who deserved the honour for his immense contribution towards the development of the country and beyond.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Harrison Kwame Dapaah, again appealed to the government to endow the school with seed money of GH¢50million and an annual cash allocation of GH¢ 10million to enable the University to meet the high cost of running a multi – campus system and also implement a 10-year strategic plan of the University.
In all a total of 1,113 students made up of 885 males and 228 females were awarded degrees and diploma certificates.
FROM DANIEL DZIRASAH, SUNYANI
