President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), in Somanya, in the Eastern Region.
The government, through the Ministry of Finance, has granted financial clearance to the University to recruit an initial 300 staff to enable its smooth take-off.
The Interim Council is expected to begin the recruitment of its first batch of undergraduate students for the 2020/2021 academic year.
At the commissioning ceremony, on Wednesday, 5th August 2020, President Akufo-Addo assured that the government would help the University discharge its mandate and grow to become a centre of excellence.
He said the Ministry of Education, acting through the National Council for Tertiary Education, is in the process of providing vital logistical support to the University to allow it to meet some of its most urgent operational needs.
The execution of Phase One of the University’s project, which cost the nation €45,575,000 comprises; a lecture Hall for School of Natural and Environmental Science and a multi-purpose auditorium for School of Natural and Environmental Science.
The rest include; laboratory building for School of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship Development; faculty offices (administration block) for School of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship Development; Vice Chancellor’s residency; Pro-Vice Chancellors’ residency; and key officers’ residencies.
President Akufo-Addo also cut the sod for Phase Two of the University’s project to begin and said Phase One, funded through the Italian Export Credit Agency, SACE and the German Bank, Deutsche Bank, is yet another example of the nation’s commitment to providing quality education and skills training for the Ghanaian people.
The contract for Phase Two was signed on 6th May 2020. It is a turnkey contract agreement with M/S Contracta, valued at €49,891,098 to be completed within 30 months.
The facilities comprise lecture halls, main library, laboratory, football pitch, handball/basketball court, badminton court, tennis court and a tartan track.
President Akufo-Addo said, “Indeed, this is the first university in the country with the mandate to provide higher education, research, and disseminate knowledge on matters of sustainable development, the protection of the environment, and a focus on developing agri-business.”
He continued, “At a time when the world’s attention is focused on the attainment of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, for which I currently serve as co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Advocates, the establishment of UESD could not have come at a more opportune moment in our nation’s history.”
President Akufo-Addo was hopeful that, the UESD “will provide strategic leadership on environmental and sustainability issues, and grow quickly to become a centre of excellence in teaching and research in this very important niche area, not only in the country but also on the continent and beyond”.
The President assured that GETFund has released money, through the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), for the payment of compensation to the original landowners, adding that “I have been assured that the outstanding amounts will be settled within the next two weeks.”
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
