President John Evans Atta Mills has stated that the resolve of his administration to establish two universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions is not a farce

but a reality that is being fulfilled.

He said the establishment of universities of repute which would win the respect and admiration of the international community and academia could not have been achieved overnight but would require the implementation of processes and programmes for the dream to become a reality.

Receiving the final report on the establishment of the two universities from the University Planning Committee at the Castle, Osu in Accra, Thursday, President Mills said, “In a few months people will begin to see progress of work on the ground.”

In 2009, President Mills established a planning committee, under the chairmanship of Professor Sefa Dede, to, among other things, develop, organise and supervise programmes for the establishment of the two universities.

Parliament, in December 2011, passed the University of Health and Allied Sciences and the University of Energy and Natural Resources bills to pave the way for the establishment of the two universities in the Volta and Brong Ahafo regions.

The University of Health and Allied Sciences is to be established as a research and practical orientated health educational institution dedicated to community service. Its academic component includes the schools of Allied Health Sciences, Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery, Public Health, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Medicine.

The university is also expected to have a Graduate School of Sports and Exercise Medicine, an Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine, as well as an Institute of Medicinal Education and Health Research.

The bill also provides for the creation of an interim council for three years before the appointment of the council under the act.
The University of Energy and Natural Resources, which is to be established in the Brong Ahafo Region, is to generate, advance and apply knowledge in energy and research sciences.

It will comprise seven schools, including the School of Natural Resources, Engineering and Sciences, the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Agriculture and Technology, the School of Geo-sciences and the Graduate School of Management and Sustainable Development.

Receiving the report, President Mills said in establishing a facility of such high repute and recognition, care must be taken to ensure that every programme recommended was thought through for the benefit of the people.

He expressed gratitude to the members of the committee for the sacrifice and accepting to serve, saying, “With the cream of academia who served on the committee, I have no doubt in my mind that an excellent job has been executed.”

The President, however, entreated them not to consider themselves as ‘discharged’ but said they should serve on the council of the universities, stressing, “Many of you are capable of playing a pioneering role to get these universities of the ground.”

He said the government would  study the report and implement the recommendations without any further delay.
Source;graphic.com.gh
Prof Sefa Dede said he was excited about the work of the committee and expressed the hope that the universities would produce graduates for national development.