State university in Volta Region?

Accra, April 26, GNA - Campaigners for the establishment of a state funded university in the Volta Region on Wednesday said a National Congress would be held in Ho on April 29, 2006 to map out strategies to make their dreams come true.

The Congress, they said, would also witness the passing of a resolution to bring together people from all walks of life, including officials from Government and Foreign Missions.

A statement signed by Mac Bubuama, Press and Information Officer of the Campaign Team, said a team, mainly comprising university professors and other prominent professionals of both national and international repute as well as concerned people were reviving the campaign. It said "The team has noted as a matter of urgency that Ghana needs a state university with major focus on Vocational, Technical and ICT; and Volta Region must be given this opportunity." The statement said the campaign team was aware of plans by the Government to introduce degree courses in some polytechnic institutions including the Ho Polytechnic to be elevated to the status of universities, but such a move "even though laudable, should not seen to be the response to our call".

It said the call for the establishment of a state-funded university in the Volta Region was initiated by the Volta Forum Trust and later received the backing of the region's parliamentary caucus in the late 1990s.

Since then many individuals and groups including the Volta Region Students Association (VORSA) and the House of Chiefs have been piling pressure on the Government on the issue. The statement said the time was now ripe for a positive action to be taken and thus appealed to the current Government to be proactive and to heed to the call in the quest to make tertiary education accessible to every Ghanaian.