The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in Somanya has been named among four public Universities to receive a ten-million-cedi (₵10 million) seed capital from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). The University is also expected to benefit from the construction of hostels and lecture theatres planned for some tertiary institutions next year.
The Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, announced this during the inauguration of UESD’s newly constituted Governing Council at a brief ceremony held at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) Conference Facility in Accra.
He urged the leadership of the beneficiary institutions to be transparent in the use of the funds, and to strictly adhere to public procurement guidelines to ensure effective and accountable utilisation of the resources.
The thirteen-member Governing Council is chaired by Hon. Seth Terkpeh, Economic Advisor to the President and a former Minister for Finance. Mr. Terkpeh was not present at the ceremony and is expected to be sworn in at a later date.
The other members of the Council are: the Vice-Chancellor of UESD, Professor Eric Nyarko-Sampson, and three presidential nominees—Professor Paul Dela Ahiatrogah, Dr. Ahmed Zakaria Abdulahi, and Professor Patricia Akweongo —selected based on their expertise in academia, management, finance, and environmental leadership.
Also; Madam Marian Esi Gyekyewa Jackson, representing the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), and Professor Jonathan Nartey Horgarh, GTEC.
Convocation is represented by Professor Anthony Amoah for professorial class; Dr. Sam-Quarcoo Dotse for non-professorial teaching, and Dr. Andrew Kofi Taayeli for non-professorial, non-teaching staff.
The rest are representatives of the following unions: Mr Louis Yaw Akakposu, senior staff: Mr. Eric Nartey, Junior staff: undergraduate students, Ms Jennifer Teiko Larbi (SRC President); graduate students, Mr Ezekiel Teye Nartey Adjorlolo and Alumni, Mr Sarfo Okyere Kore, Alumni.
Hon. Iddrisu reiterated that as the youngest public University in Ghana, UESD has a unique responsibility to focus on environmental issues. “The world is going green, and we must align our practices accordingly in how we engage with our natural environment,” he emphasised.
Addressing the challenge of illegal mining (galamsey), the Minister expressed concern about its destructive impact on Ghana’s water bodies and air quality. He noted that UESD is well-positioned to become a centre of excellence in environmental sustainability and urged the University to leverage its intellectual and research capacity to develop solutions that can support national efforts to combat galamsey.
Hon. Iddrisu also acknowledged the existence of the University’s current five-year Strategic Plan, which expires this year. He expressed optimism that the newly inaugurated Governing Council will take the opportunity to reset and refocus the University’s vision, crafting a new strategic direction that responds to both national priorities and emerging global environmental challenges.
By: Barbara M. Yakubu