UNIVERSITY GRADUATES MUST BE CREATIVE TECHNOCRATS (PAGE 11)

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua

A SUPREME Court Judge, Mr Justice Julius Ansah, has asked products of the country’s universities to be creative technocrats and entrepreneurs capable of solving hands-on problems on the field instead of spending all their time in offices pushing papers.
By the very nature of their training, he said university graduates should not rely entirely on the government for employment but to creatively think out business ideas that would transform not only themselves but society as a whole.
Mr Justice Ansah made these remarks in a keynote address at the first congregation of the All Nations University College (ANUC) at Koforidua.
In all, 202 students received degrees in various disciplines of which 12 had first class. Among them was a 75 year-old minister of the gospel, Rev Joseph Albert Appiah who obtained a Second Class Lower in Biblical Studies.
Mr Justice Ansah urged university graduates to be innovative by creating practical solutions to problems.
“Ghanaians would be the best people to find practical solutions to the problems of the country instead of foreigners”, he stated and appealed to the graduates to make good the knowledge acquired in that respect.
“Before us today are engineers who will roll up their sleeve and work in the field to tackle hands-on problems with hands-on fixes but will not spend their time in offices pushing papers”, he emphasised.
He told the graduands that they are creative entrepreneurs who should not sit at home waiting for the government to employ them but venture out and think out business ideas that would transform, not only themselves but those around them, Mr Justice Ansah stated.
He commended Dr Samuel H. Donkor, the President of the ANUC for his vision of setting up the university.
Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi said the establishment of private universities had made it possible for the numerous qualified candidates who hitherto, could not have entered state-owned universities to benefit from university education.
He said only 6,000 out of the 18,000 yearly applications to the KNUST could be admitted.
“There is the clear need for us to train the required manpower for the country’s socio- economic development, but considering that the capacity of all our public universities is limited, it is only logical that we help mentor other private sector institutions so that they can assist the nation’s manpower requirement”, Professor Adarkwa stated.
Professor Adarkwa said KNUST currently had 14 tertiary institutions affiliated to it and gave the assurance that the KNUST would continue to nurture such institutions, particularly those which are science and technology biased.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwodwo Afram Asiedu said the establishment of the ANUC at Koforidua had provided a launching pad for the socio- economic development of the Eastern Region and asked the graduands to contribute to the development of the region.
The Omahene of New Juaben, Daasebre (Professor) Dr Oti Boateng who commissioned the Alumni of the university appealed to the members to promote the interest of their alma mater and the private sector.
The President of the University, Dr Samuel H. Donkor said currently there were about 1,900 students offering various courses, including Business Administration, Biblical Studies, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering and Computer Science.