Anomabo (C/R), Oct 5, GNA - Amicus Onlus, a non-governmental organisation, based in Italy is helping to convert the structures of Fort Williams at Anomabo to house a higher place of learning to be called Baobab University College.

A ground breaking ceremony was performed jointly by Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive, and the Reverend Caesar Atuire, President of Amicus Onlus, on Saturday, to mark the beginning of work on the College.

Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional Minister, in a speech read for him, reiterated government's commitment to provide affordable access to higher education to ensure that it did not become an asset for only a privileged few.

He noted with concern that some of the country's Universities were losing focus and thereby were not meeting their obligations to the nation.

"Employers have complained time and again that our University graduates lacked the skill mix expected by today's job market," he stated.

Nana Arthur held that "lecturers seem more concerned about making publications to enhance their careers, to paying attention to the pedagogy that will ensure that the students develop skills that will not only enable them to compete favourably on the job market, but also make meaningful contributions to national development." Mr Quainoo-Arthur expressed regret that although the Central Region could boast of good educational institutions in the country, its citizens were not making the best use of them. Rev Atuire said the College would start with post graduate programmes in Nursing, Epidemiology and Entrepreneurship.