President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has underscored the relevance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country and assured of his government’s commitment to its development.
Nana Akufo-Addo mentioned that countries that gained independence same time as Ghana have outstripped Ghana in development, attributing that to a transformation from agrarian economy to an industrialised one made possible by technical and vocational education, technology and skill training.
He said the problem of unemployment in the country could have been solved if emphasis were laid on TVET to provide students with the right skills and disclosed that steps had already been taken by his government to enhance and give TVET the needed attention.
He said this in an address as the Guest of Honour at the grand durbar of the 50th anniversary celebration of Ho Technical University (HTU) in the Volta Region on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at the G.M. Afeti Auditorium of the University.
He described the theme for the jubilee celebration, “Consolidating the Gains of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana: HTU @ 50” as apt and disclosed it was time the country reflected on that and made resolutions to develop and enhance TVET for transformation.
Nana Akufo-Addo admitted that government was aware of the infrastructural challenges of technical Universities including the HTU and assured of positive results before the end of his mandate in 2020.
He also disclosed that processes were underway to rename HTU after the great musicologist from Peki, Volta Region, Ephraim Amu for his contribution to his motherland in line with the University Council’s decision which he had given his blessings.
Various speakers at the durbar including Prof. Emmanuel James Flolu, Chairman of HTU Council, Prof. Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi, Interim Vice-Chancellor of HTU enumerated the evolution and transition of the University from an Institute/Polytechnic era to its current phase and commended the efforts of all those who played important roles in its development.
The speakers called on all to partner with the University which is 50 years in existence and 25 years as a tertiary institution for its transformation into a reputable technical university in Africa and beyond.
There were various goodwill messages congratulating the premier tertiary institution in the Volta Region on its celebration including that of the Volta Regional Minister Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa which assured the leadership and the University Community of Nana Akufo-Addo led government’s support to develop and make the Institution the pride and envy of all.
The Ho Technical University was established in 1968 as a Technical Institute with the objective of providing Pre-technical education. It became a Polytechnic in 1986 and got upgraded to a fully-fledged tertiary institution in 1993 by the enactment of PNDC Law 321 and was finally converted to a Technical University by Technical Universities Act 2016.
By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com