University of Ghana launches 10-year economic plan

The University of Ghana on Wednesday launched its second 10-year corporate strategic plan to improve working conditions and make careers in the University attractive and worthwhile.

It would also provide the blue print for strategic leadership and management of the University. The University, within its corporate strategic plan intends to establish a learning Resource and Faculty Development Centre to assist members to enhance their instructional and research effectiveness.

It also intends to expand the multi-disciplinary Environmental Sciences Programme to support research activities in integrated water resource management with specific reference to catchments used for urban water supply, integrated coastal zone management and causes of environmental pollution.

The third major project is an expansion of the University's Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to ensure a cost effective data communication system that would support management information system as well as its distance education schemes.

Nana Oyeeman Wereko Ampem the second, Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who launched the plan, said the plan would cost about 20 million dollars to implement.

He said being the oldest and the best tertiary institution in the country; however, the general congestion on campus was unhealthy, unsafe and unproductive. Student enrolment at the University this academic year stood at more than 15,000 with an infrastructure facility inadequate to keep pace with the high student numbers.

He said it was appropriate to re-examine the disbursement of funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund, which was not intended to be used as a substitute for government's normal subventions in the education sector.

"I believe the GETFund should be used largely to fund such projects as the Strategic Plan of the University. This is the only way in which the fund can be of lasting benefit to the improvement of education in Ghana."

Oyeeman Wereku Ampem called for the support of government, all alumni, friends, parents, students and the donor community in Ghana and abroad to buy into the plan and raise funds to implement it.

He said this would be done through direct personal approach to potential benefactors. The Chancellor said the university was determined to stay the best in Ghana and was committed to being counted among the elite in Africa.

Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Vice Chancellor of the University, said in spite of the successes achieved in the previous plan, the problems identified seven years ago continued to remain.

He said for the University to maintain its traditional role of teaching, research and provision of extension services whilst still serving the public interest, certain facilities must be put in place.

"These include lecture halls, laboratories, equipment, improvement in the telecommunication and greater access to up-to-date information communication technology facilities."

He said the University, had, however, chalked some successes in connecting to the Internet via the VSAT Satellite System and extending their fibre-optic backbone to other sections of the University and sister universities through the VRA fibre-optic network as well as radio.