News
Focus more on STEM courses…Gifty Twum Ampofo tells Technical Universities
The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical Vocational Education and Training, Mrs Gifty Twum-Ampofo has called on technical
universities to focus more on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) courses and less humanities in their universities.
According to her, the technical universities were set up for that purpose, and hence needed to concentrate more on STEM courses to enable the country reap the full benefit.
“The ratio of humanities to that of STEM or TVET should increase higher and higher and I believe that would be a vehicle to which Ghana can reach a point beyond aid,” she stated.
Mrs Twum-Ampofo, who represented the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, made these statements during the 19th Congregation of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) in Koforidua.
2, 241 students who have passed for awards of Degrees and Diplomas qualification in 2022 academic year graduated during the ceremony themed “The Role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Products in Value Addition to Ghana’s Economic Growth and Development.”
Mrs Twum-Ampofo indicated that for the country to go beyond aid, there was the need to equip students with skills in STEM and TVET to enable them engage in industrialization that would turn around the fortunes of the country in recent times where technology has far advanced.
By that, she indicated that the country would achieve economic growth and development to make Ghana robust beyond aid.
She reiterated that technical universities ensure that students were trained in more of STEM/TVET courses and less in humanities to achieve the country’s objectives on STEM education.
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the KTU, Professor David Kofi Essumang stated the need for Science and Mathematics education to be strengthened at the Senior High Level of education.
According to him, greater efforts to give priority to STEM education in the Senior High Schools level would help to feed the technical universities with the necessary human resources to appropriately carry out their mandate.
“Technical Universities in Ghana are mandated by the Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922) to equip students with technical skills required for industry and with this mandate, technical universities are expected to focus on engineering, science, vocational and technical-oriented programmes with little or no concentration on Business and Humanities,” he explained.
He said for the country to attain economic growth and development, there was the need to ensure that the mandate of the technical universities was achieved to enable the country have the needed manpower to fuel the expected economic growth.
Speaking on the challenges of the University, he revealed that it faced infrastructural challenges, adding that lecture halls, students and residential accommodation for staff were inadequate.
“There is only one hostel on our campus and this is woefully inadequate. The 448-bed GET Fund student hostel is inadequate for the teeming students,” he said.
He stated that it has become a major challenge facing the university and called on government and philanthropists to come to their aid.
Congratulating the grandaunts, he encouraged them to uphold the core values of innovation, integrity and impact imbibed in them to enable them to be successful in life
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
News
National Service Authority to Introduce Military Training
Management of the National Service Authority, yesterday, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, held talks with the Military High Command towards the implementation of the National Service Emergency Response Readiness Programme (NSERRP).
When implemented, this will reflect His Excellency the President’s commitment towards the implementation of a short military training for National Service Personnel (NSPs) as planned efforts to instill discipline, nationalism and physical fitness among Ghanaian graduates.
The President shared this position during his maiden State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday February 27, 2025.
At yesterday ’s meeting, the Director-General, Mr. Felix Gyamfi reiterated the need for all personnel to undergo basic military drills and orientation as part of orienting the youth to embrace national development.
“The introduction of this military training is a step in the right direction and must be embraced by all and sundry as one of the indicators for resetting the country, particularly the youth,” he commented.
On his part, Brigadier General Amoah-Boakye assured the Authority of their willingness to provide the requisite training for personnel when the Programme officially commences.
In all, personnel will receive up to two months of composite basic military drills starting 3rd August, 2025.
News
Ghana Tourism Authority acts on concerns of minors allegedly taken to Hotel in Accra New Town.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has taken swift action following reports circulating on social media regarding an incident involving minors allegedly taken to a hotel in Accra New Town.
The case has been formally reported to the Nima Division of the Ghana Police Service for investigation.
In line with their mandate to ensure safety and compliance in the tourism and hospitality sector, our CEO Mrs.Maame Efua Houadjeto delegated a team from the GTA Head Office, Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, Deputy CEO, Special Duties and Mr Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO, Operations who joined the Greater Accra Regional Director, Ms. Roberta Dawson-Amoah, and the Deputy Director of Marketing, Ms. Clara Nketiah, to visit the said facility.
The objective was to verify the facts on the ground and take necessary regulatory action.
They commended the Ghana Police Service for their co-operation and continued support in the ongoing investigation.
Additionally, the team inspected Royal Dede Beach Resort, which has been converted into a hostel under new management without official notification to the Ghana Tourism Authority.
The team discovered that the hostel’s operations were not in compliance with the L. I 2239. Meanwhile the operator has been directed to the Standards and Quality Assurance Department of the Authority for the necessary regulation.
“We remind all accommodation operators that the Tourism(Registration and Licensing of Accommodation) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2239) mandates every facility to register and obtain a license from the GTA before commencing operations.
This regulation ensures quality, safety, and compliance across the industry,” they noted.
The GTA they said, remains committed to safeguarding the public and upholding the highest standards in the hospitality sector and urged
the public to report suspicious or non-compliant facilities to the nearest GTA office.
