Prof Adarkwah (2 nd right) explaining a point to officials. 2 nd left is Dr Adjase
THE IMPLEMENTATION of a proposed health university in Kintampo christened ‘The City of Health’ expected to transform Kintampo and its environs hangs in the balance following a heavy encroachment on the 3,000 acres of land earmarked for the university.
The project, part of plans to transform the existing College of Health and Well-Being, (CoH&WB) to a world class health university, is projected to accommodate a total of 31,000 students, faculty members and other staff members upon completion.
The extent of encroachment is estimated to cover about 275 acres with 17 buildings at various stages of development.
This, officials said, was a major problem with the implementation of the plan.
This came to light during a Second Phase Briefing on the Proposed Master Plan for the University College of Health And Well-Being Kintampo, held at Kintampo on May 8, attended by traditional authorities of the area, officials of Town and Country Planning, Lands Commission, Kintampo Municipal Assembly, media, staff and students of the college.
Professor Kwasi Adarkwah, a former Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), leader of the planning consultants from the Department of Planning, KNUST, disclosed that major areas encroached ‘are generally to the south-east and north-east of the acquisition, where the colleges, library and ICT centre, university’s senior high school, basic schools and children’s library would be cited.’
Prof Adarkwah asked the authorities to plant teak trees to clearly demarcate the acquisition especially on the boundaries. He further asked the authorities to ensure that future encroachers on the acquisition are made to face full rigours of the law to stem the act and added, ‘We need collaboration, co-operation and partnerships to commence the development of the 3,000 acres acquisition.’
The President of Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and Chairman for the meeting, Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese V, constituted a fact-finding committee made up of representatives of Mo Traditional Council, Security Agencies, Kintampo Municipal Assembly and the Lands Commission to look at issues surrounding the acquisition of the land to forever end the encroachment.
Rector of CoH&WB, Dr E.T Adjase, said the College in line with its strategic vision of becoming a health university acquired the 3,000-acre land in 2009 which was sadly being encroached upon.
‘CoH&WB’s vision for the development of the land is to make it a modern, well-designed university campus, well-spaced, conducive for academic and research work. Parts of the land will be used for afforestation, field demonstration sites for practical teaching and skills acquisition for students and community members. Green belts, parks and natural habitats will all be carefully taken care of,’ he said.
FROM Fred Tettey Alarti-Amoako, Kintampo
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