Make yourselves employers, not employees - Minister to graduates

Oyibi (GA/R), March 14, GNA - Mr Felix Owusu-Agyapong, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, has urged graduates from the universities to strive to be employers rather than become employees because government considers them as the pillars of the private sector.

"When you come out as graduates from the universities you should recognize yourself as leaders for the realisation of government's dream to make the private sector an engine of growth by making yourselves employers and not a bunch of employees looking for jobs," he said. Mr Owusu-Agyapong who is also the Majority Leader in Parliament said this on Sunday when he addressed fresh students at the 10th convocation of the Valley View University, which saw 265 students being admitted into the institution this year.

The students, comprising nationalities from 15 African countries including 228 students from Ghana, would undertake courses in Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting, Computer Science, Bachelor of Arts, Theological Studies and Bachelor of Arts Religious Studies. Mr Owusu-Agyapong noted that the moral fibre of society was fast degenerating even though more and more people in the country were being exposed to religion and more education.

He said it was imperative and worthwhile therefore to have a university such as Valley View with a mission, which appeared to give the assurance that students who pass through its walls might be transformed and well adjusted to the problems of the Ghanaian society. Mr Owusu-Agyapong said in order to address the unfortunate scramble for the few places in the universities and the desperation and near despondency on the faces of parents, government was committed to meeting the needs of students though it would not be as one would have expected because of the heavy burden of state resources.

"I am convinced that the private institutions can meet part of the need and we all must support them to broaden the competition and choice in tertiary education," he said.

Mr Owusu-Agyapong urged the freshmen to count themselves lucky and should therefore endeavour to work hard towards their objectives and learn to respect and appreciate those whose efforts and sacrifices would assist them to attain their goals.

Dr Daniel Opoku-Boateng, Acting President of the University, said the school's Faculty sought to inculcate in students a sense of service that would let them respond to the nation's needs and also for the needs of the world to come.

"We are not here only to teach students but also to offer guidance and counselling to our students and we are committed to providing a drug free study environment," he said adding that social degeneration plaguing some university campuses would not be allowed to get a foot hole on his institution.

Dr Opoku-Boateng said Valley View is a pacesetter in the fight against the scourge and menace of HIV/AIDS and that plans were far advanced to introduce into the university's curriculum a general education course on the disease.

"In fact, this summer, the school is going to offer free training to many our students as peer counsellors in HIV/AIDS," he said. 14 Mar. 04