The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Koku Anyidoho has confirmed to Citi News that Government has secured adequate funds to kick start construction work on the two new public Universities in the country.
On Monday, February 7, President John Evans Atta Mills cut the sod for the construction of Volta Region’s first public University at Ho.
The University, which would have a campus in Hohoe, is to be known as the University of Health and Allied Sciences.
It will have eight schools, one faculty and two institutes as well as a Medical Science and Exercise Nursing School. On Tuesday, January 8, President Mills performed another ground breaking ceremony in the Brong Ahafo Region for the construction of the University of Energy and Natural Resource Management.
Some critics have suggested that Government needs to improve already existing Universities with adequate lecturers and facilities rather than going ahead to build more universities. Others are also of the view that Government was only in a haste to fulfil a campaign promise and may not be committed to the projects after all.
However, speaking to Citi News, Mr. Koku Anyidoho said the construction of the two public Universities is not to score cheap political points but is in line with NDC’s pledge to create jobs and invest heavily in Ghanaians.
“The President is engaging in this not to score cheap political points. As I speak to you, I know for a fact that there is money available…there is funds available for work to commence immediately. I can assure you that it’s going to take another two months before you see the first block coming up”. Koku Anyidoho added that the Brong Ahafo University would admit its first batch of students in September for the 2011/2012 academic year.