By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, has commended government for allocating funds for completion of phase one of the KNUST Teaching Hospital project.
Government has set aside GH¢46mfor continuation of the hospital project meant to complement the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in the teaching of specialists health professionals and also provide healthcare to members of the public.
Addressing the 59th Special Congregation of the KNUST in Kumasi, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who is also the University’s Chancellor, however appealed to government to facilitate release of the money to ensure the teaching hospital becomes operational by the end of this year.
The event was the climax of this year’s four-day Special Congregation of the KNUST which saw the graduation of a total of 8, 377 bachelor and postgraduate students. Among them were 71, including 20 women, who graduated with PhD.
The 59th Special Congregation was the last such programme of the University before the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rita Dickson, ends her tenure on July 31, this year as the 11th Vice Chancellor of the KNUST.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who is also Chancellor of the University, appealed to government to release the funds allocated for completion of phase one of the KNUST Teaching Hospital this year.
“I’ve taken notice of Parliament’s approval of budgetary allocation for the completion of the 1st phase of the Teaching Hospital And I want to place on record, my sincere appreciation to the government for this kind gesture.”
“This project represents a significant national investment in education, healthcare and development”, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Rita Dickson, announced that the KNUST has been chosen by a UK-based research organization to host a consortium of West African universities to develop adaptation strategies to reduce the health impact of climate change.”
She announced, “I’m extremely delighted to report that, Welcome Trust of the United Kingdom has established two regional hubs in Africa led by African Universities, to develop climate adaptation strategies to reduce the health impact of climate change.”
“Ghana is serving as the hub for the West Africa region. Nana Chancellor, the good news is that, West Africa consortium, a £20M regional health and climate research initiative, to be hosted in Ghana, West Africa, will be an hired at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology”, the Vice Chancellor announced amidst excitement and loud applause.
The Vice Chancellor expressed excitement of the enactment of a new Act of Parliament, Act 1157 of 2025 for the KNUST following which a Development Plan code-named ‘Plan 2K35’ has been developed to move the university from being a Centre of excellence to Eminence.
The President of Ramapo College of Technology in the United States, Prof. Cyndi Jeb, who was the Special Guest, noted that, the COVID-19 pandemic and impact of climate change must be a lesson for global partnership toward finding solutions to challenges facing humanity.
She urged the graduating students to positively impact society with their knowledge.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com