Governing councils of 3 universities sworn in
The governing councils of three newly established universities were yesterday sworn in at a ceremony in Accra.
They are the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in Somanya in the Eastern Region, the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) in Navrongo in the Upper East Region and the S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Wa in the Upper West Region.
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Members
The UESD Council is chaired by Professor Jonathan N. Ayertey, the President’s nominee.
The other members are Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, Vice-Chancellor; Mrs Efua Esaaba Agyire-Tettey, Prof. John Blay, Mr Johannes Twumasi-Mensah and Mrs Gina Odarteifio.
The interim management is made up of Prof. Nyarko-Sampson, Mrs Mary A. Agyepong, the Registrar, and Mr Baffour Awuah Kwabi, the Finance Officer.
The CKT-UTAS Council has Professor Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare as Chairman.
The other members are the Interim Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Magnus Wilmot; Dr Cletus Agyenim-Boateng, Prof. Mrs Agnes Atiah Apusigah, Dr Bukari Ali, Dr Philip Kwasi Mensah, Mr Fatai Usman, Mr Samuel Ayipio Ayuu, Mr Afelibiek Ababu and Mr Raymond Korbla Otivi.
The interim management of the university is made up of Prof. Wilmot, Dr Vincent A. Ankamah, the Registrar, and Mr Michael Owusu Ansah, the Finance Officer.
The Governing Council of the SDD-UBIDS is chaired by Prof. Felix Dapare Dakora, the President’s nominee.
Other members are Prof. Philip Duku Osei, the Vice-Chancellor; Naa Puowele Karbo III, Ms Ramatu Cynthia Yawson, Dr Philomena Efua Nyarko, Dr Joseph K. Wulifan and Mr Matthew D. Kyaglser.
The rest are Mr Yeng Simon Bonsodong, Prof. John-Eudes A. Bakang, Ms Leticia Benewah Osafo-Addo, Mr Abledu Bright Sakyi and two other members from convocation and the alumni.
The interim management of the university is led by Prof. Osei, Mr Emmanuel Baidoo, the Registrar, and Mr Abdulai Suglo, the Finance Officer.
The councils were sworn in by the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Acts
During the 25th graduation of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale in November 2019, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced that Cabinet had given approval for the Wa and the Navrongo campuses of the university to become autonomous universities.
Subsequently, the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences Act, 2019 (Act 1,000), and the S.D. Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies Act, 2019 (Act 1,001) were passed by Parliament to give meaning to the establishment of the universities.
For the UESD, it had been set up under Act 898 in 2015.
Advice
Swearing in the councils, Dr Prempeh said university campuses must not be used as breeding grounds for violence, anti-social behaviour or ethnic divisions.
He said as grooming grounds for the future leaders of the country, the campuses must have a positive student experience.
He urged the members to ensure that peace and stability prevailed on the campuses at all times for smooth academic work.
“While remaining focused on your core duties, you are advised to consider the sensitivities of other stakeholders with great circumspection, so as not to unduly disadvantage the vulnerable and the less-privileged. You must be fair to all manner of persons in all that you do, without regard for ethnicity, gender or social standing,” he said.
Regarding the UESD, Dr Prempeh said one of the most important global issues of the present time was environmental protection and sustainability.
“The establishment of the UESD has, therefore, come at an appropriate time, and it is the expectation of President Akufo-Addo that the university will provide strategic leadership on environment and sustainability issues and grow as a centre of excellence, technology and research,” he said.
He announced that the Ministry of Finance had granted financial clearance for the three universities to recruit staff.
On behalf of the councils, Prof. Awandare said members would be guided by the need for academic excellence in the execution of their respective mandates.
