Agriculture and Technology University to get a major boost


Operations of the year old School of Agriculture and Technology of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), at Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono-Ahafo Region is set to receive a major boost following Government's decision to invest 20 Million Ghana Cedis in the infrastructural development of the School.

This came to light at a sod cutting ceremony for the construction of structures at the permanent campus of the School at Dormaa Ahenkro. The structures include blocks of lecture halls and Laboratories as well as a library, auditorium and ICT Laboratories.  

Speaking at the sod cutting, the Omanhene of Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Agyemang Badu, promised to support the project with an initial 200 thousand Ghana Cedis, 800 bags of cement and a truck load of floor tiles.  

GBC's Correspondent, John Sam-Arthur Reports that he UENR, Bono-Ahafo's first public University, started operation in the 2012/2013 Academic year with 154 students.  The University, within three has seen its student population grow to just over 1603, whilst it offers 19 different academic Programmes from four schools.  

One of them is the School of Agriculture and Technology, which last year became the first satellite campus when it commenced operations with 35 students at Dormaa-Ahenkro.  

The School currently operates out of temporary structures either donated by the Dormaa Traditional Council or rented.  

The sod cutting ceremony held at the site of the permanent campus signals Government's intention to ensure the rapid development of the UENR's first satellite campus.  

The first buildings of the school is being developed on 2000 acres of land donated by the Dormaa Traditional Council. Packaged in different lots and awarded to different contractors, the projects are a four storey lecture hall, which will have eight 100 seater lecture halls valued at nearly six million Ghana Cedis and a block of laboratories, expected to cost, almost  three million, 400 thousand Ghana Cedis.  

The others are a library and Auditorium Complex, estimated at just over three million, 700 thousand Ghana Cedis and a Four storey ICT laboratory block. The work is expected to be completed between 17 and 18 months.  

The Omanhene of Dormaa Osagyefo Agyemang Badu, the Vice Chancellor of the UENR, Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah and MCE for Dormaa Central, Gordon Asubongten, jointly performed the sod cutting and planting of commemorative trees. Earlier in an address, the Omanhene assured the gathering of his preparedness to support the development of the UENR even when it comes to developing other satellite campuses outside his traditional area.  

The Vice Chancellor of UENR, Prof. Esi Awuah, thanked the Government, the GETFUND and the Dormaa Traditional Area, for their immense support for UENR.  

She however, appealed to Government consider placing the University on a special budgetary allocation and funding arrangement to meet its commitments as a specialized Institution.  

The MCE for Dormaa, Gordon Asunbongten who deputised for the Regional Minister, stressed that the education sector remains a priority area for Government investment.


GBC