KNUST to offer proficiency courses in Chinese and Akan

Kumasi, June 22, GNA - The Department of Modern Languages of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is to establish a Translation Bureau to offer proficiency courses in Chinese and Akan. Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of the University, said t his could help the university to generate more income for development. He was speaking at the third session of the 44th Congregation of the University in Kumasi, on Tuesday.

Seven out of the total of 331 students, who graduated from the Departmen ts of English, Modern Languages, Religious Studies, History and Political Studies, had First Class Divisions. The Vice Chancellor noted that Chinese had become an important language, especially in the business world, and said he was hopeful that the course would be well patronized.

He expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of the Department of Religious Studies, one of the new departments of the College of Arts and Social Sciences. Prof. Adarkwa said religious studies had a major role to play in a Scien ce and Technology University, such as KNUST, as it exposed students to moral ity and ethics for balanced education. "It looks at human development with special emphasis on how norms of behaviour are derived and applied while examining faith and belief in a world characterized by scientific modernity." He commended the graduates for sailing through some challenges in their education and reminded them that the world of today was characterized by intense competition.

Persistent floods would nece

ssitate diversion of Aflao-Accra Highway

Denu, June 22, GNA - The Aflao-Accra Highway would be closed to vehicular traffic at Agbozume for a trench to be dug across the highway f or flood waters to drain off should heavy rains in the Ketu-South District persist.

If that happens, traffic from Accra to Aflao and vice versa would be diverted through Keta or Dzodze, Mr Rex Edekor, the Resident Engineer of Conterra Limited, the consulting firm on the Akatsi-Aflao Road project, s aid on Monday. He was briefing Colonel Cyril Necku (rtd), Deputy Volta Regional Minister and National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) officials during a tour of flooded areas in the district. Schools, houses, markets, roads and churches were inundated by flood s after the 10-hour weekend rains. Affected areas include Laklevikope, Agbozume and its environs, Nogok po, Adina with many rendered homeless.

Mr Edekor said an earlier decision to close and cut the road was suspended, on Monday, after the floods receded following the de-silting o f choked culverts at Tengekope and Sukladzi. He complained about the lack of maintenance of culverts and stated t hat culverts for the Agbozume-Aflao portions of the highway would be widened and raised during the current reconstruction works. Mr Edekor also suggested a comprehensive drainage system for Agbozum e, through Horkpe to the Keta Lagoon at Havedzi to stop the perennial floodi ng in Agbozume and its environs.

Colonel Necku suggested that an inland canal be constructed in the a rea to absorb future floods and asked the District Assemblies to prevent peop le from building in low lying areas in and around Agbozume. He presented relief items worth more than GHC 42,800 to Mr Frank Amable, Ketu-South District Chief Executive, for distribution among the flood victims. Mr Henry Ametefe, Volta Regional NADMO Coordinator, asked the Assemblies to be proactive in preventing floods by enforcing sanitation a nd building regulations.