From Left, Prof Adimado, (Chairman of Governing Council), Prof. Opoku-Agyemang (Education Minister), Dr. Afun, Rector in handshake with the Over all Best Student, Razack Amegah
President John Dramani Mahama has passionately appealed to universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions in the country to prioritize the admission of this year’s batch of Senior High School (SHS) graduates.
The President made the appeal in a speech read on his behalf by the Education Minister, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman at the 13th congregation of the Ho Polytechnic in the Volta Region.
The Minister, who occasionally interspersed the President’s speech with her views, noted that tertiary institutions, which creditably handled the 1995 crises in the education sector, should rise up to the occasion this year.
The duration of SHS programme was extended from three to four years during the 2007/2008 academic year to allow students to cover their syllabus.
However the tenure was prematurely reverted to three years in 2010 attracting a lot of criticisms.
The President disclosed that plans were far advanced to institute a Research Fund to cover research undertaken by all institutions, including the tertiary.
The Research Fund, according to the Minister, will make more resources available.
The establishment of the fund became necessary because the current research grant available to institutions was not properly handled.
The Minister, who called for the support of all stakeholders, commended the Polytechnic for initially implementing the Competence Based Training, CBT initiative, adding that Polytechnics are the fulcrum to drive development in developing countries like Ghana.
Prof. Opoku-Agyeman noted that GETFund projects are being assessed.
She commended the lecturers and parents for supporting the graduates and wished them well.
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Victor Jakpasu Afun complained about inadequate lecture halls, laboratories, teaching and learning equipment, as well as accommodation for staff and students.
He revealed that the Polytechnic added HND Banking and Finance and HND Purchasing and Supply to their courses.
In all, about 1,079 students graduated with 15 of them attaining first class in their various programmes.
The Overall Best Student award went to Razack Kwesi Kwebu Amegah, a HND Building Technology student.
Awuyeh Dennis Kwesi received the Henreita Acolatse Memorial Award for the Best Secretarial English student.
The Francis Ganyaglo Award for the Best Marketing Student was presented to Nyadzor Gabriel while the Japan Motors Award for the Best Automobile Student was received by Philemon Hene.
Amenyo Richard Yaw also received the Abdalah Alia Best Student in Taxation Award.
The Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Togbe Afede, the Deputy Regional Minister, Francis Ganyaglo and Prof. Anthony Adimado, Chairman of Ho-Poly Governing Council graced the occasion.
From Fred Duodu, Ho