The Vice-Chancellor of the George Grant University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa in the Western Region, Prof Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma has disclosed that Ghana’s premier university dedicated to mines and technology is struggling with its financial duties.
According to him, the university’s finance predicament has been worsened by the delay in the release of a promised five million cedis by President Nana Akufo-Addo during the inauguration of former President John Kufuor as Chancellor of the university in January 2018.
Speaking at the 10th Graduation Ceremony of the university in Tarkwa, Vice Chancellor Prof. J.S.Y Kuma said “we will like to inform you all [students, parents/guardians, lecturers, ministers of state and other government appointees, traditional authorities and other stakeholders] that UMAT is facing serious financial challenges which are making teaching and learning very difficult.”
The reason for the university’s present predicament, according to him, is that “there is always a large funding gap between government support and what the university generates through fees compared to the amount required to train our students.
The situation has stalled in ongoing infrastructure projects at the university.
UMAT’s new administration block, the four-storey faculty block, the two-storey eight flats bedrooms, the two-storey cafeteria block among others essential projects have seen little progress towards their completion.
In the midst of this situation, some monies promised the university by President Nana Akuffo Addo in January this year is yet to hit the coffers of the university.
Reminding the president of his promise to the university, Prof. J.S.Y Kuma said that “Chancellor, during your investiture, the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo promised the university an amount of GHc 5 million annually to support the completion of some projects. We will like to use this occasion to ask for the early release of this fund to help us to complete the projects on time.”
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By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
