Mahama Asks Polytechnics to Adhere to Core Mandate

Mahama Asks Polytechnics to Adhere to Core Mandate

President John Dramani Mahama has asked polytechnics to adhere to their core mandate which is to provide the needed skilled manpower to drive the development needs of the nation.

According to him, Polytechnic education is indispensable in the growth and development of the nation and that the necessary efforts must be made by the state to ensure development of facilities in the polytechnics.

The President, who said this in a speech read for him by the Minister of Education, Prof. Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang at the 13th Congregation of the Ho Polytechnic, noted that the government recognizes the significance of Technical, Vocational and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in its education reforms for rapid development of the country.

Mr. Mahama observed that polytechnic education occupies a central part of the reforms and urged the polytechnics to fashion out programmes of study that would prepare graduates even more adequately in the fields of Science and Technology to enable them to perform creditably in the world of work after graduation.

The President said it was the earnest expectation of government and other stakeholders that polytechnic graduates would put to good use the skills and knowledge acquired to benefit society by establishing small scale industries where they would become employers instead of employees.

Mr. Mahama pointed out that for Polytechnic education to be more effective, there ought to be closer relationship between industry and polytechnics.

He said government was also aware of the need to ensure improved salaries and other conditions of service to attract the best professionals needed in the polytechnics adding that it was in view of this that government had successfully migrated all staff of the Polytechnics onto the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) as at October 2012.

President Mahama assured that the government would not relax in its efforts to providing the essential infrastructure for polytechnics.

The Chairman of the Ho Polytechnic Governing Council, Prof. Anthony A. Adimado assured the various stakeholders that the Governing Council would not relent in its commitment to the provision of strategic direction to actualize the vision and mission of the polytechnic.

Prof. Adimado reminded polytechnic graduates that although the world was in the era of technology, they should be in position to make good use of ICT because the inability to do so would lead to what he called "mistechnology."

The Rector of the Ho Polytechnic, Dr. Victor Affun Jakpasu, noted that the 1,077 graduates who were graduating could be described as one of the finest who went through Diploma and Degree level education in various disciplines of study.

Dr. Jakpasu Affun said even though lecturers at the Polytechnic were hard working, most of them have no accommodation, as well as inadequate accommodation for students, and appealed to the government to help provide more accommodation for both teachers and students.

In another development the Ghana News Agency reports that President John Dramani Mahama has given the assurance that government would continue to pursue measures to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.

He said although a number of strides had been made over the years, government was still committed to building structures that would create job opportunities and build the capacity of people in both the public and private sectors.

President Mahama gave this assurance when he addressed the Ghanaian community in London as part of his three-day official visit to the United Kingdom. The meeting attracted hundreds of Ghanaians living in London and other cities in the United Kingdom.

President Mahama mentioned some of the measures that government had initiated to step up the socio-economic development of the country as; the expansion of energy capacity, building of a resilient economy that would attract investors into the country.

He said although the country was currently facing some energy challenges, government had adopted pragmatic measures that would subsequently keep those challenges at bay in the coming months and urged Ghanaians to play their roles responsibly.

On good governance, he said, government was passing a number of bills into law that would ensure transparency and the democratic freedoms for Ghanaians to participate in the daily governance of the country.

"Cabinet has approved right to information bill, Local content in the petroleum sector bill among others have been approved pending Parliamentary approval."

President Mahama condemned the misuse of technology by doctoring photographs of prominent personalities and the attacks on politicians and leaders adding, "I do not think that the internet is meant for such things."

He, therefore, challenged Ghanaians to use technology to develop strategies that would enhance the development of the country, create jobs and provide necessary skills for the youth rather than engaging in fruitless attacks on personalities.

Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Trade and Industry, said despite the on-going election petition in the Supreme Court, the elections were not won in court but at the polling stations.

He said the 2012 elections were free, fair and transparent and even foreign election observers testified to that and it was therefore strange for the opposition, New Patriotic Party to take the issue to court.

"NDC won eight out of the 10 regions of the country, which the opposition are aware of, and yet took the case to court," he added.

Mr. Kwasi Oppong, Chairman of Ghana Union in London, appealed to all Ghanaians irrespective of affiliations, to offer support to government to develop the country.

He commended President Mahama for meeting them to check on their welfare in London and the entire United Kingdom.