Ho Poly inducts new rector

An impressive and colourful investiture ceremony was held at the weekend for the fourth Rector of the Ho Polytechnic Professor Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi.

Professor Emmanuel Massapequa Kojo Sakyi is an Associate professor from the University of Ghana Business School. He was the head of department of Public Administration and Health Services Management. He holds a PhD in Development Policy and Management from the Manchester University, United Kingdom.

He was appointed in October 2014 to take over the challenge. Whether this could be described as an opportunity or a challenge for him, can only be measured by the innovations and the management styles brought on board.

During his one hundred days in office he told the press about his determination to lift the polytechnic to an icon institution not only rope them into the giant take off of the institution to technical university among first batch but also rake in experience hands and ideas to make it a resource centres for other universities and tertiary institutions because Ho Polytechnic already has the structures and it is capable to do so. A point he reiterated in his speech.

Professor Sakyi said, per the criteria of the Ministry of Education and the Technical Committee for an institute to qualify for a technical university, the Ho polytechnic would do its best to be among the first selected without which would be an indictment to his person.

For these reasons, various internal committees were set up to oversee the establishment of School of Research and graduate studies, international Journal, Centre for entrepreneurial, innovation and technology transfer. Others are, establishment of endowment fund, continuing/distance education and welfare/credit union scheme.

And, more importantly, he mentioned he will use both technical and adaptive change method of management system in shaping, minds, believes, habits and relationships for healthy and smooth development of the polytechnic. He also promised partnership with organisations and financial institution for the speedy development to build upon the achievements of his predecessors.

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Francis Ganyaglo who is an alumina and Lecturer, advised the staff and management to choose the way of dialogue in order to protect the integrity and reputation of the polytechnic rather than open confrontations and negative media attention drawn to the school.

He announced the approval a three storey unit classroom block for the business faculty which will be sponsored by the GETfund.

The immediate past rector, Professor Joseph Victor Kofi Afum also gave account for his stewardship stating among all other achievements that he was successful in restructuring the system which was greeted with stiff opposition by certain individuals and has laid the foundation for the convention of the Polytechnic into a Technical University soon.

The ceremony was attended by the first Principal and Rector, Dr George Mawusi Afeti, the academia, traditional leaders, business executives, the clergy and political heads.