Takoradi, Oct 18, GNA - Dr George Oduro, Chairman of Takoradi Polytechnic Council, on Saturday said plans were far advanced for the establishment of an endowment fund to help promote academic work and social activities of the educational institution. The fund dubbed: 'The Takoradi Polytechnic Endowment Fund', would be used to enhance research, support teaching and learning and assist needy but brilliant students of the Polytechnic. Dr Oduro announced these at the Eight Congregation of the Polyphonic at which about 3,002 graduands were awarded with Degrees, High National Diplomas and certificates.

He said that such a fund would assist in addressing challenges of the Polytechnic and asked its alumni and corporate bodies to support the initiative adding "Both government and non-governmental institutions that utilize the services of our product should contribute generously to the fund". Dr Oduro asked the graduands to be diligent and disciplined in carrying out their duties and be good ambassadors of the Polytechnic. Mr Paul Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister, urged Polytechnics in the country to play active role in promoting science and technology. "We must all realize that the dramatic changes propelling globalization have been achieved largely as a result of the phenomenal developments in science and technology", he said. Mr Amoah said that government through the GETfund had released GHC 1.7 million for infrastructural development while GHC13, 500 had been allocated for research and staff development. Dr Samuel Obeng Apori, Rector of Takoradi Polytechnic, said the educational institution in collaboration with some industries had developed different particle chip boards from palm fruit fibre, sugar cane bagasse, com stalk among other materials previously regarded as waste. He said the Polytechnic had won many awards over the years through quality research and publication of journals and that accerelerated human resource development had also received much attention. Dr Apori congratulated the graduands for completing their programmes and urged them to contribute meanfully to national development. 18 Oct 09