President John Mahama has appealed to President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo to sustain Ghana’s growth when he takes over in January 7, next year.
According to the President, Ghana is on the verge of a socio-economic break through due to the solid foundation laid by successive governments, and therefore the need to sustain the path .
“It is my prayer as I prepare to hand over the administration of the country on January 7 next year that , our exploit and initiatives will be sustained for the betterment of our dear nation Ghana”.
Mr. Mahama on Thursday cut sod for the construction of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development at Somanya amidst tears by aggrieved supporters of the NDC.
The 45 million pound commercial agreement Fund for the project between the government of Ghana and Italy has been approved by Parliament .
The President commended parliament for passing the necessary agreements for the realization of the university in particular, the Education select committee.
The President announced that the first Vice Chancellor for the university will soon been appointed following the completion of work by the implementation committee.
The proposed university is aimed at ensuring a paradigm shift in the tertiary education sector with focus on training Environmental and Sustainable development professionals in Ghana through its general and specialized degree programs.
The programs to be offered by the University include Research into climate Change, water resource development , energy Sustainability and energy economics and sustainability , Urban Architecture ,Natural resources ,Environmental science ,Environmental policy among others.
President Mahama said the University has its main campus at Somanya and a satellite campus at Donkrokro -Afram plains.
The Institution will be under four Graduate schools with fully furnished faculty halls , lecture halls , laboratories and ancillary facilities . The graduate schools will be ; The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences ,The school of Sustainable Development, The school of Agriculture and Agro Entrepreneurship and The School of Built Environment .
One of the graduate schools will have three research centers ( Center for Agro Entrepreneurship and Center for Agriculture and Biotechnology , Center for Sustainable resource development)
According to the President, Land for the University has been properly secured and documented, diffusing notion of litigation over the site.
Source:Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
