President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that he never makes promises that he cannot keep.
He made the remark while laying sod for the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (UEAS) in Bunso, Eastern Region, on Friday, 20 May 2022.
President Akufo-Addo stated in this year's State of the Nation message to Parliament on March 30, 2022, that steps were being taken to transform the planned Bunso campus of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development into a standalone, independent University dedicated to the study of Engineering.
"I also stated that construction on this campus will begin within three (3) months." As you are aware, President Akufo-Addo does not make promises he cannot keep, and I am delighted that we have all gathered here at Bunso to lay the groundwork for the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences, which will be a Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Applied Sciences, and Built Environment," the President stated.
President Akufo-Addo told the audience, which included the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, that the world as we know it is primarily driven by technology.
He stated that energy, industry, agriculture, medicine and health, clean air and water, transportation, sanitation, natural resource use, management, and conservation are all ultimately based on science and technology.
"It is obvious that in order to be a part of this modern world, science and technology must be present at all stages of development." This means that a country's development is dependent on its ability to comprehend, adapt, produce, and commercialize scientific and technological knowledge in ways that are appropriate to its culture, aspirations, and level of development," he continued.
This, he explained, will help shape the realization of the national dream, "which is to meet basic survival challenges, such as providing food, shelter, clothing, health, and security for the people, and creating wealth that will ensure the prosperity of present and future generations."
The President stated that, over the last five years, his government has increasingly implemented initiatives and programs rooted in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), with the goal of achieving a science-humanities ratio of 60:40, as well as educating a critical mass of the Ghanaian population for science-related jobs, which will define their future employability.
"I am thus pleased to report that this year's enrolment of TVET students in Senior High Schools has reached record levels – forty-four thousand (44,000) students, representing a 100% (100%) increase over the 2021 enrolment figure." Our Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, which measured enrolment in tertiary education regardless of age and was expressed as a percentage of the population in 2021, increased significantly to 20 percent this year," he added.
UEAS
When completed, UEAS will be the second public university in the Eastern Region, focusing on meeting human resource demands from domestic industries, according to the President.
"The creation of this University is also part of the government's response to the current national concernabout food security." "The University will provide leadership in teaching, research, and public outreach across a variety of fields, and will help address problems that affect our food security, as well as enhance Ghana's industries' future competitiveness in a sustainable manner," he added.
The President expressed gratitude to the Export-Import Bank of Korea and the Republic of Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for providing the ninety-million-dollar (US$90,000,000) facility for the construction of the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences, Bunso Project.
He urged all stakeholders – including the Ministry of Education, contractors, and consultants – to stay on schedule and within budget.
President Akufo-Addo also used the occasion to express the government's and the Ghanaian people's sincere gratitude to the Government and people of the Republic of Korea for their ongoing cooperation with Ghana, and to assure them of Ghana's determination to deepen and expand the two countries' friendship.
"Osagyefo, Nananom, I am delighted to be back here, and by the grace of God, I will be back here in twenty-four (24) months to commission the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences." And I have the great honor and pleasure of laying the groundwork for its construction," the President concluded.
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