Accra, Sept. 6, GNA - Authorities of University of Ghana, Legon on Saturday admitted 11,700 students for the 2008/2009 academic year. The students, the 60th batch to enrol in the country's premier university, this year, included the first batch of students to pursue a newly introduced Bachelor of Pharmacy programme.

Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor, said the University admitted only 11,700 out of 22,865 applications received to pursue undergraduate and post graduates programmes. He regretted that the University faced the painful task of having to turn down applications of many other qualified applicants, due to constraints on facilities and staff.

Professor Tagoe said 153 applicants from less endowed school were also admitted in the Humanities and Business School and had been exempted from paying academic user fees.

He said some on-going projects on campus include a new Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Central laboratories for Faculty of Science and Physics Laboratory to improve academic facilities.

Professor Tagoe said about one million Ghana cedis was used to re-wire the four traditional halls of residence, namely Akuafo, Volta, Commonwealth, Mensah Sarbah in addition to the renovation of the washrooms of Commonwealth Hall at an estimated cost of 60,000 Ghana cedis.

On Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Prof. Tagoe said government had signed an agreement for a Chinese concessionary loan of 8.2 million dollars to support the university with ICT infrastructure in the Distance Education programme.

He announced that three new scholarship schemes, namely Educational Pathways International Scholarship, All Nations Education Scholarship both from USA and Tertiary Scholarship Trust, Oxford University, United Kingdom have been instituted to offer full scholarship to students. The scholarship ranged from 500 to over 1,000 dollars per year, applicable to students from less endowed schools. Prof. Tagoe advised the students to study hard and take advantage of the facilities available to prepare them for future opportunities and challenges.

Mr Anthony Oteng Gyasi, Chairman of University Council advised the students to adhere to rules and regulations guiding the university, especially with regard to examinations. He advised them not to allow themselves to be used by politicians for violence during Election 2008. 06 Sept. 08