Ghana Telecom University Opens

THE first university that will provide the requisite human resource in the country’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector was formally inaugurated in Accra yesterday by President J.A. Kufuor.

Ghana’s newest university, the Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) is affiliated to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The university currently has Communication Engineering and Information faculties.

Its vision is to be a viable and a universal model centre of excellence that will provide communication, information technology and professional certification courses to meet the development needs of the country and the West African sub-region.

It also aims at being a renowned centre of excellences in education, research, teaching, intellectual creativity and innovation.

Started in 1948 as a training school for technicians of the Ghana Telecom, the school in the early part of this year, received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board to operate as a university. A total of 300 sudents are expected to be admitted next month to do certificate, degree and post-graduate programmes.

Inaugurating it, President Kufuor said government has secured a 30-million dollar concessionary loan from China for the setting up of a system that will improve internet connectivity throughout the country. Dubbed “Information Super Highway,” the system will provide effective internet connectivity, render high quality service delivery and balanced socio-economic development.

lion dollar concessionary loan from China for the setting up of a system that will improve internet connectivity throughout the country.Dubbed “Information Super Highway,” the system will provide effective internet connectivity, render high quality service delivery and balanced socio-economic development. President Kufuor said government was also working seriously to secure an additional concessionary loan for the rest of the project. He expressed the hope that training of students in the university and other technologically oriented institutions will move in tandem with the project to ensure optimal utilization of the infrastructure.

He said government placed Information and Communications Technology on its priority agenda to be developed as a major tool for promoting accelerated national growth adding the opening of the university will help provide the appropriate manpower required.

The President also said that the government has approved the implementation of the e-Ghana project in conjunction with the World Bank.

The 40-million dollar project is to implement specific programmes to make ICT widespread in the country.

He said the project specifically, covers the finalization and implementation of the relevant policies, legislation, regulations and procedures to support the telecommunications broadcasting, postal and other sectors which require electronic transmission.

The Principal of the College, Dr. Osei K. Darkwa, said the university represents hope for Ghana in the development of ICT. He said the university will be built on three missions of teaching, research and public service.

The chairman of the University Council, Dr. Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, who is also Deputy Minister of Communication said the university intends to chart a different path in its academic pursuits.

He said the university will train students to be active citizens capable of using their expertise to help in the development of the country.

Professor Mike Oquaye, Minister of Communications, said the government was determined to make ICT an instrument for socio-economic and political re-engineering to ensure rapid development.

The Chief Executive of GT. Mr Frode Haugen pledged the company’s preparedness to continue to give financial assistance to the university.