Kumasi, Oct 12, GNA - Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwah, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called for improvement in the conditions of service of university lecturers. This, he said, is necessary to retain and stop them from leaving to seek greener pastures abroad.

Prof. Adarkwah was speaking at the University's 12th Long Service Awards ceremony held in Kumasi. In all, 225 senior and junior members of staff received Certificates and Citations for dedicated services.

The Vice-Chancellor noted the important role lecturers play in the training of the critical core of the nation's manpower and said it is incumbent for government and stakeholders in education to see to it that they are well motivated.

He said he was aware of the tremendous pressure put on the teaching staff of the KNUST following its introduction of new academic courses and encouraged them to work hard and prove equal to the task. Prof. Adarkwah observed that the burden on universities have in recent times become more enormous and challenging due to the fact that the society and development partners of the nation expected them to be innovative and development-oriented to solve the varied socio-economic problems facing the nation.

He urged Ghanaian researchers to step up their efforts at making their research work more relevant to societal needs. Dr. Kwame Agyemang, Chairman of the Award Planning Committee, commended the award winners and urged them to continue to work hard.