Position GTUC as leading ICT University-Haruna Iddrisu advices

Published in the Daily Graphic on 30/08/2010, pg 11

Story: Matilda Attram

(GTUC) has been inaugurated with a call on the members of the council to urgently position the college as a leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) university in the world.
The council has therefore, been urged to review the strategic plan of the GTUC and also make inputs into the proposed bill to support the legal set up of GTUC as a public tertiary institution.
“The decoupling of GTUC as a fully fledged autonomous ICT university of excellence is therefore an important strategic focus not only for the GTUC, but the government of Ghana,” the Minister for Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, stated as he inaugurated the nine-member council.
The council is expected to approve and support the mission and scope of the institution, set policy for its general operations, improve quality of learning, approve programmes, as well as make changes in existing ones and encourage the co-ordination of all elements of the institution, with focus on building skills and capacity in information technology.
Mr Haruna noted that the GTUC had a primary mission to extend education in engineering, ICT in innovative manner to students on its main campus in Tesano-Accra, as well as across the nation and throughout West Africa through virtual/distance learning.
Beyond this broad mission, the minister said it was important to define an expanded strategic focus for the GTUC, following the decision of the government of Ghana to ensure that GTUC was spun off from Ghana Telecom Company Limited/Vodafone to become a leading university of ICT excellence.
The minister explained that Article II of the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) entered into by the government of Ghana and Vodafone International Holdings B.V., enjoins both parties, by mutual intention, to spun off the GTUC from the Ghana Telecom Company into an independent entity.
He said his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the African Union (AU), had selected the GTUC to host this year’s African Institute of Information Technology, under an African Union - Government of India Partnership arrangement.
In a related development, the government had also concluded a partnership arrangement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Open Society Institute of West Africa (OSIWA) to open the Africa e-Governance Academy in Ghana, the minister announced.
It is expected to develop and transfer knowledge of expertise based on research, and help improve the public sector service delivery, citizen’s participation in decision making in a manner that would enhance accountability and transparency in governance across Africa, he added.
He commended the management of the university for its contribution to the country’s development.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the President of GTUC, Dr Osei Darkwa, said the university, which started its full operations in 2006, was built on three missions namely teaching, research and public service.
He said the university offered programmes in Telecom Engineering, Computer Engineering, Wireless Internet Communications and Information Technology.
Dr Darkwa pointed out that the university had upgraded its status of learning by introducing research skills that would enhance the capabilities of the students.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that the university would produce more professionals in the field of ICT to develop the country.
The council has Professor Walter Alhassan as its chairman. Other members include Dr Osei Darkwa, Rector of the GTUC and Mr Gideon Quarcoo, also representing the GTUC.
The rest are Professor F. A. Allotey, Professor Clement Dzidonu, Mrs Sylvia Asempa, Mr Nortey Yeboah, Dr Ben Adu and Mr Dick Otuteye.
On behalf of the members, the Council Chairman, Professor Alhassan, pledged to the management of the university, to, among other things work effectively to improve the culture of research among students in the school .