The Kumasi Polytechnic has welcomed Professor Joseph Aruna Lawrence Kamara, a Sierra Leonean Statistician and researcher as Visiting Professor for four weeks. Professor Kamara, who is the head of the Department of Mathematics at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, has extensive knowledge in Mathematical Demography, Statistics and Statistical Modelling.

During his stay at the Kumasi Polytechnic, Professor Kamara would be expected to help prepare the modalities and legal framework for academic co-operation and collaboration between the polytechnic and the University of Sierra Leone. But more importantly, he will also help develop a syllabus for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Statistics programme, which the Kumasi Polytechnic intends to introduce in the 2012/2013 academic year, in collaboration with the University of Sierra Leone.

At a brief welcoming ceremony, the in-coming Vice Rector of Kumasi Polytechnic, Dr. George Owusu-Dapaah said, the visit of Professor Kamara, who has over 20 years experience in academic research and publication couldn’t have come at a better time.

He said, “the Kumasi Polytechnic wants to make a quantum leap in the range and scope of academic programmes we offer.”

“We want to give students a variety of choices in academic programmes so that no Ghanaian student, who aspires to attain the requisite skills and knowledge, is left behind due to lack of the appropriate course or facilities,” the in-coming Vice Rector said.

Dr. Owusu-Dapaah however acknowledged that, to succeed, there is the need for a commensurate upgrade of the capacity of staff and hoped Professor Kamara will help the polytechnic in the area of human resource development.

Dr. Owusu-Dapaah said, the Kumasi Polytechnic is constantly looking at ways of strengthening staff research and publications which go a long way in improving the capacity of staff.

He announced that Professor Kamara, during his stay, will be attached to the Faculty of Applied Science and hoped staff of the Mathematics and Statistics department will tap into his knowledge and experience. Professor Kamara, in his brief remarks, said he had forged a very close working relationship with the Rector of K-Poly, Professor Nicholas Nsowah-Nuamah through international academic several fora.

“That culminated in a visit to the Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone by Professor Nsowah-Nuamah,” he said.

He noted that the University of Sierra Leone will work with the Kumasi Polytechnic to upgrade the HND Mathematics and Statistics programmes into Bachelors’ degree programmes.

Professor Kamara echoed the sentiments of the in-coming Vice Rector, stressing that the academic capacity of teaching staff required significant upgrade hence the proposal to introduce the PhD in Statistics next year.

The Acting Dean of Faculty of Applied Science, Mrs. Felicity Tatra pledged her unit’s unflinching support to Professor Kamara. She said all the staff of the faculty will cooperate and assist the Visiting Professor to ensure that all the lofty goals set for him by the Polytechnic, during his stay are achieved.