AUCC to produce graduates in Green Technology and Communication

Accra, Oct. 5, GNA - Driven by a strong interest to lead the promoti= on of green economy in Ghana, the African University College of Communications (AUCC), is ready to produce graduates at all levels in Green Technology and Communication in the country.

The AUCC Institute of Green Technology and Communication (IGTC) to offer certificate, diploma, degree and doctoral programmes, has the objective to undertake research studies into Green Technology and Green Products and the Green Industry through effective collaboration with local and international research institutions. The concept of Green Economy and the Green Industry seeks to redirect policy making and investments to targets sectors and areas such as renewabl= e energy, agriculture, forestry, tourism and enhanced ecosystem services that can lead to economic empowerment, growth, job creation and the attainment o= f the MDGs.

Sharing the vision of the Institute with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in Accra, Kojo Yankah, President of the AUCC, said the idea was to delve deeper into environmental journalism and communication and create a cream of knowledge-based professionals who would be in a position to influence and shape policy making and implementation in Ghana and Africa. "The Asian economies are doing well in terms of growth because they long realised the importance of Green Economy and the need to promote bio-degradable products and renewal energy resources," Yankah said. "Unfortunately in Ghana and in other parts of Africa, little is bein= g talked about green economy," he indicated and referred to the United Nati= ons Environmental Programme (UNEP) initiative on Green Economy launched in 2008= , which focuses on 11 key sectors to improve human wellbeing and reduced inequalities. The sectors are agriculture, fisheries, water, cities, building, forests, energy, transportation, waste, manufacturing and tourism. In order to help realise this vision and especially contribute meaningfully to reducing the menace of plastic wastes and environmental pollution in Ghana, Yankah established an NGO named Africa2Green. "Ghana and most parts of Africa continue to burn and destroy lots of wealth in the name of waste when in actual fact such wastes can be turned into millions of dollars," he observed and added that most of what we cal= led wastes were indeed important raw materials and with the right technology in place they could be used to manufacture so many things to improve the lives of people.

The Vision of Africa-2-Green is to grow to become Africa's biggest multinational company and manufacturing and distributing biodegradable packaging products from agricultural wastes and eco-friendly materials. The Green Technology and Communication course aims to produce graduate= s combining technical and scientific communication skills with an understanding of the environment and land-based industries which can contribute to the development of renewable resources in rural areas. The course will cover renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro and biomass), energy efficiency, crops for bio-products, sustainable land use, waste and recycling and green building technologies. Broadly the Institute's interdisciplinary research programmes will b= e centred on six strategic thrusts: Green Economy Indicators, Climate Change and Future Economies, Turning Agriculture Waste to Wealth, Green Energy and the Environment, Environmental Management and Environmental Communication. Graduates of this emerging sector are expected to come out to be consultants, project managers, technical representatives, researchers, gree= n energy advisors, environmental audit officers, business development officer= s and community liaison officers.