GNA | Edited by Christabel Addo
President John Dramani Mahama has inspected ongoing construction works on the four-storey central laboratory complex at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Navrongo in the Upper East Region.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that all abandoned Government projects were completed to ensure value for money and for the benefit of the citizenry.
President Mahama was received on the University Campus by Professor Albert Luguterah, the Vice Chancellor, UTAS.
The President recalled that during the campaign in 2024, they said that they were going to undertake an inventory of all abandoned projects, including those that were abandoned after he left office as President in 2016 and during the eight years of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, and ensure that they put money into them and complete them.
“The reason is simple: taxpayers’ money has already been invested in these projects, and we must make sure that those investments are put to productive use,” the President said.
“This (UTAS Laboratory Complex) is one such project. It started in 2016, reached a certain stage, and was abandoned after our government left office,” he said.
He explained that once they returned to office, and based on their policy of completing abandoned projects, the project was included in the inventory.
“We have therefore provided funding for the work to resume, and I am happy to see that the project is progressing again,” he added.
President Mahama said the project was a very important project for the University because it was a multi-complex science laboratory.
Adding that since the University was an institution focused on applied sciences, laboratories were very important for the teaching and learning that takes place there.
He said they were therefore happy that the project had commenced again and was scheduled to be handed over next year.
President Mahama said from next year, the students should have a first-class laboratory that would support teaching and learning and provide students with the facilities they need for their science-based programmes.
Responding to a request by the UTAS Vice Chancellor for the surfacing of the roads on the University campus, President Mahama directed the Minister of Roads and Highways to ensure that five metre roads were tarred.
The President assured the Vice Chancellor of Government’s support in his efforts towards the establishment of a Medical School in UTAS.
“We want as many universities as possible to train doctors so that we can have enough doctors to serve our country and, where possible, provide medical professionals to other countries,” President Mahama said.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, said four universities this year received the Government’s grant money of GH¢10 million each from GETFund and that next year 10 technical universities would receive similar grants of GH¢10 million each.
He said they had also released grant money of GH¢25 million for the start of the National Defence University.
Source: gna.org.gh