The campaign was held jointly with Breast Care International (BCI) and it included screening and public education.

A health walk was held through some principals streets of Kumasi before a free breast screening exercise at the school’s campus at Amanfrom.

Patrons of the event, who included faculty members and students as well as residents of the community.

Breast Care International, as part of the partnership, distributed free breast self-examination gloves and thought participants how to examine their breasts.

Participants were also screened for blood pressure and sugar level.

In October every year, Breast Cancer charities worldwide put breast cancer issues under the spotlight, propagating information and raising funds to boost research, diagnosis, treatment and cure for breast cancer.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is also dubbed ‘Pink October’.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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In all, about 130 students graduated in various disciplines including Coventry students graduating in Ghana (80), CASS students (8), Coventry students graduating at UK (39) and Staffordshire students (3).

The ceremony marked the end of one year graduate studies for students graduating in various disciplines for the September intake for the 2015/2016 academic year.

The availability of these Coventry programmes is a manifestation of GTUC’s vision to deliver programmes that are both industry and business relevant.

GTUC has experienced growth in terms of projects and programmes over the past eleven years.

Student population has also increased considerably, from a starting cohort of less than 100 students to almost 8000 students currently.

Speaking at the event, the President of GTUC, Prof. Osei Darkwa said tertiary institutions should focus on the support and partnership that professional associations can provide to complement the university curriculum development.

He further explained that professional institutions are the societies and associations that promote and further a career and the people who practice in it.

“In Ghana there are over twenty (20) professional institutions covering areas including, finance, engineering, construction, health, law, journalism, banking, taxation, personnel and management,” he added.

Prof. Darkwa also encouraged professional bodies to collaborate actively with universities to inform the curriculum delivered at these institutions.

He explained that it is important for the curriculum to include new trends and international best practice and what students need to learn to become effective in the field of work.

He said they should also partner industry on graduate training programmes to provide accreditation and professional training for graduates to equip them with the needed skills for their respective organisations.

Prof. Osei K. Darkwa emphasized that GTUC focus is to produce graduates who add value to their prospective employers or the communities they live in.

“We take pride in being a place where theory combines with practice to give our students a proper understanding of the world around us, he added.

Prof. Darkwa advised graduates to continuously aspire to improve, challenge, build new knowledge and most of all, and do not accept the status quo as is.

He reminded graduates to ensure that they make a great difference in their respective fields of practice with the unique skills and experiences they have acquired from GTUC.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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It said it has for the past 11 months successfully managed its operations and finances to avoid a crisis situation.
A section of the media earlier this week reported that the school was in a dire financial crisis resulting in lecturers not being paid for more 2 months.

The report quoted the GTUC lecturers association as saying the “Government must urgently intervene to save the University from the current state of financial crisis.”

“The financial issues must be addressed so it does not affect other parts of the academic process which has been running successfully”, Chairperson of the college’s Lecturers Association, Dr. Kweku Arthur is reported to have said.
But the school has denied the claims.

In its release, it said, “The Management of GTUC wishes to state categorically that the University College is not in any sort of financial crisis as alleged by the GTUC Lecturers Association.”

“The current situation is a regular and normal experience that occurs in most private tertiary institution around this time of the year when students are on vacation and cash flows go down.”

“We wish to assure the general public and our valued stakeholders that GTUC remains financially viable and a strong institution in every sense.”

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifimonline.com/Ghana

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The theme for this year graduation is “The impact of University Graduate Output in the Work Place:  A Challenge to the new graduate”. The ceremony marks the end of one year graduate studies for students graduating in various disciplines for the September intake for 2015/2016 academic year for programmes that we run in collaboration with Coventry University, UK, CASS Europe and Anhalt, Germany.

In all, about 170 students graduated in various discipline as follows: MBA Programmes (Coventry): Oil and Gas Management 4, Finance 38, MSc Programmes (Coventry): Engineering Project Management 11, Management Information Systems 13, Engineering and Management        10, Supply Chain Management 20, MBA Programmes (CASS): Global Finance 1, MBA Programmes (CASS): International Trade, 6.

KNUST Programmes                                  

Msc. Telecommunications Engineering 1, Postgraduate Diploma Oil and Gas Management 1, Postgraduate Diploma Supply Chain Management 1, Students Graduating at Coventry 58. The availability of these programmes is a manifestation of GTUC’s vision to deliver programmes that are both industry and business relevant. As a University College, our contribution to national development is to satisfy the intellectual needs of the society through teaching, advance the frontiers of knowledge and most importantly to transmit knowledge from one generation to another. This we do through the introduction of Undergraduate, Masters and PhD programmes that are unique, contemporary and structured to meet the needs of industry.  Speaking to the theme for the graduation “The impact of University Graduate Output in the Work Place:  A Challenge to the new graduate”, the President of GTUC, Prof. Osei K. Darkwa, said that, the GTUC graduate always adds value to their prospective employers and has a positive impact in the communities they live in. “At GTUC, we always take pride in being a place where theory combines with practice to give our students a proper understanding of the world around us’ he added.

He emphasized that; the GTUC graduate is a critical thinker – intellectually disciplined, able to skillfully analyze, conceptualize and evaluate situations to provide alternate solutions, the GTUC graduate is innovative – trained to challenge themselves to find new ways of doing the old. Our graduates are fully aware that yesterday’s ideas will not provide solutions to our current and future challenges and so they bring creativity, dynamism and out the box thinking to every situation they are confronted with and finally the GTUC graduate is entrepreneurial -with the capacity to develop, organize and manage their own business ventures, providing employment for self and others and building a nation as a result. “These are the kind of graduates we present to you today” he said.

Prof. Darkwa told all graduates to exemplify the true characteristics of the GTUC Graduate and to always show the difference between the GTUC graduate and the rest. He also encouraged them to shine their lights in all the corners of our nation Ghana & abroad as ambassadors of this University College.

He further stated that, through these collaborations and partnerships, GTUC has been able to build the capacity of staff and faculty, brought cutting edge undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to the people of Ghana, introduced highly advanced and innovative educational technologies within the institution, implemented new educational models, and exchanged experiences and best practices.

The Guest of Honour, Dr. Mrs. Ellen Hagan giving her address as said that “The College is keen to ensure, that as our graduates embark on this remarkable journey today, they are equipped with the tools and knowledge that will be required to help them succeed in the world and in their places of employment. It is expected that GTUC products will make a positive difference wherever they find themselves”.

She assured graduates of their enormous potential and advised them to pursue their dreams.

The overall best student and valedictorian, Mr. Kwaku Damey Asamoah shared with vivid memories the hard work, dedication and sacrifice that graduates have invested in their respective programs of studies. Mr. Asamoah was especially pleased with the intense support from the staff and faculty of GTUC,  “Knowledge indeed comes from learning as the university tagline goes and I can assure you Mr. Chairman, that as Masters Graduates, we are now completely rounded and professionally competent in our respective fields.” He said.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The number comprised of 138 postgraduate students and 1,162 undergraduates.

President of GTUC, Dr Osei K. Darkwa speaking at the ceremony advised the graduates to put to good use the knowledge they acquired at the university.

“We believe your training here at this university has given you knowledge and molded your perception about life and its experiences and we have every confidence that this training will be put to excellent use. I encourage you to continuously aspire to improve yourselves, challenge yourselves, build new knowledge and most of all, do not accept the status quo as it is.”

For his part, chairman of the university’s council, Professor Walter Alhasan encouraged the graduands to be optimistic in all their endevours.

“My advice to you is aptly captured in a quote from Rodolfo Costa, which says, cultivate an optimistic mind, use your imagination, always consider alternatives, and dare to believe that you can make possible what others think is impossible.”

The founder of Simon Page College of Marketing, Princewill Osaro Omorogiuwa who also spoke at the ceremony said Africans is blessed to have such an institution in Africa since it will open up opportunities in the techonological space.

“Africa is blessed because institutions like Ghana Technology University College exist. Institutions like this that gladly welcomes, integrates and develops students from across the continent are to be commended. In many countries including or perhaps especially in Nigeria, studying in Ghana has become a guarantee of good quality and uninterrupted education,” he added.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This, she said, has led to the reorientation of scores of science and mathematics teachers at basic and secondary school levels, and ensured the provision of relevant resources to boost students’ interests in the study of such subjects.

The move is expected to build a solid foundation for robust technology training and shore up enrolment of technical students in tertiary education.

“We have retrained thousands of teachers of these subjects at the basic and secondary levels with the hope of going into the future, to be able to see more students into all these disciplines,” she said.

“Because we know that if we have to turn our primary commodities into those that have value-added then we need to seriously pay attention to technical and vocational education.”

Professor Opoku-Agyemang was addressing scores of students, lecturers, parents and guardians as well as local and international partners at the 10th Anniversary durbar of the Ghana Technology University College (GTUC).

The anniversary was on the theme: “Connecting the dots,” which took retrospective and prospective assessment of entrepreneurship, information technology and engineering training in Ghana after GTUC was inaugurated 10 years ago.

Though these subjects, she said, has been posing as a “threat” to students, they played invaluable roles in technology education for sound knowledge and skill building that would accelerated national economic growth.

“These subjects form the basis of our education, [as such] we need to seriously take another look at how we teach mathematics and science, especially at the basic levels.”

“What is about these subjects posing threat to our students,” she quizzed, and urged state parties to forge private and public partnership as guaranteed by the country’s 1992 Constitution in order to promote quality technology education”

“Sometimes it is labelled that private participation [in education] is focusing on the humanities but GTUC has upturned that argument” referring to other universities as veering off their mandate which GTUC has defied and continue to stick to its statutory obligation of offering technology inclined courses.

She expressed delight that at least the country has two private medical schools, “something that has taken us too long a time to come to fruition.”

Dr Osei Kofi Darkwa, the President of GTUC, chronicled several achievements of the University, first used as a Royal Air Force Training School during the Second World War and subsequently handed to Cable and Wireless to train Telecommunications Technicians for British West African Countries – Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.

The University which begun as a training centre – teaching certificate courses – has developed into a fully-fledged accredited university with campuses dotted across the country and West Africa.

School authorities say GTUC student population has climbed to over 8,000 pursuing more than 28 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Engineering, Informatics and IT Business.

The University has established “functional and mutually beneficial partnerships” with over 20 institutions and universities worldwide, Dr Darkwa said.

Some notable partnership institutions includes Aalborg University in Denmark; Anhalt University, Germany; Staffordshire and Coventry Universities, UK; University of West Scotland and CASS Europe, Belgium; and Lexemborg;

Others are MS Ramiah, India; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; Central State University; Southern State University, US, Jiangsu and Gulin Universities, China.

Dr Darkwa said the institution received many awards including one at the Business Initiative Award Summit for the university’s “contribution to technology education” and the Socrates Award for being “one of Africa’s most progressive universities.”

It also obtained the European Society for Quality Research Best Practices Award for “implementing outstanding quality management strategies and the Le Matinal Educational Excellence Award which was received for being the best Telecoms University.

GTUC has been ranked as the best private university in Ghana and the fourth among all universities in the country.

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Source: GNA

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“For a developing country like Ghana, engineering, entrepreneurship and Information Technology are intrinsically connected to our development,” GTUC President, Dr Osei Kofi Darkwa stated at the college’s 10th anniversary panel discussion in Accra.

He was speaking on the topic: “Connecting the dots in entrepreneurship, information technology and engineering; a retrospective and prospective review.”

He told a large crow of students, local and international audience that the three disciplines cannot be extricated as they are strongly linked to the extent that countries like Ghana cannot gloss over their joint benefits to boost economic prosperity and cut down poverty levels.

Many developed and emerging countries, Dr Darkwa noted, have used Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) to transform their economies and made ICT core part of their annual budget allocations.

“ICT constitute 10.5 per cent in the Gross Domestic Product of Malaysia, and the goal is to boost it to 17 per cent by 2020.

“Education is undergoing significant changes due to new technologies and innovations, which have impacted positively on higher education provision. The impact has led to new pedagogical models.

“Over the next conceivable years, it is predicted that these new technologies will put education within the reach of many individuals and will allow greater specialisation in curriculum and teaching methodologies.

“While the conventional setting of the lecture hall will continue to form the bedrock of educational systems, it will be enhanced by integration of new online learning tools,” he noted.

Dr Darkwa  said engineers are now tackling complex social issues such as poverty, inequality, disaster recovery, climate change, and infrastructure development than ever before.

“But our universities are working to catch up with these new realities. The drive to drive to improve living conditions of the least privileged citizens of the world, Ghana and overseas seems to be almost entirely absent from engineering education in Ghana.”

He said engineers possess the technical knowledge and problem solving skills to respond to constant changes, and are therefore well positioned to work with other disciplines, including scientists and designers, to provide a stream of ideas and technical responses essential for sustainable competitive industries.

He said the ability of engineers to build Ghana into the future will depend on changes that will occur over the next decade or so, but “we have too few students studying science, technology, mathematics, and engineering subjects, too few going into engineering at the universities, and a shortage of engineering skills across the economy as a result.

“We need to create a culture of learning driven by innovative thinking, anchored in collaboration and built on recognition that the changes in our world are inevitable.

“Future generation of engineers has to contribute to ensure new ideas and solutions lead to continuous improvement in the quality of life in Ghana.”

On free enterprises, Dr Darkwa said entrepreneurs are visionary activists who excel in the creation of opportunities and active in handling of risks and uncertainties.

He said the numbers of poor people are increasing and as strategies are being reinvented about the way services are provided to the underserved, it is imperative to remember “significant market at the bottom of the pyramid”.

“This is over four billion poor people who are unserved or underserved by the large organised private sector.

“Four to five billion poor can be the engine of the next round of global trade and prosperity and we need innovative approach to address their needs,” he said.

Dr Darkwa said there are benefits of encouraging entrepreneurship go beyond economics, and as people gain confidence, financial freedom and access to information, they are better able to participate in the governance process and positively affect large groups of people or dependents.

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Source: GNA

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After months of evasion and denial, the cat was let out of the bag (or sack) when the Ghana Football Association on Monday that a committee (made of Fred Crenstsil, Fred Pappoe and the GFA’s Technical Director Oti Akenteng) had been set up “to appoint a technical adviser” for the Black Stars.

Wait a minute. A technical adviser or a technical director for the Black Stars?

Wow!!!!  Why do that after stating strong support for the Black Stars technical team especially the head coach Kwesi Appiah?

Let’s all try a good guess.

Maybe because the man in charge is not as good as we all thought?

A huge maybe but the decision to bring in a second eye tells us the hard truths we either failed to see or were too scared to recognize after the 2013 AFCON.

There were deficiencies in the “guidance system” of the Black Stars that were pulled from the deepest crevice and placed on the bare Earth for the galaxy to observe.

Then we went to the World Cup in Brazil and the realities were again underlined. After that, the GFA said the head coach and his group were very fine and Kwesi Appiah was given a new contract. A juicier one that would see him take a pay rise and a buffed-up signing-on fee.

But a few weeks after that statement, the coach, who is seemingly loved by his bosses, will be getting someone to teach him a few new tricks.

So much for support.

The announcement more or less “kills” any thoughts of opposition and rebellion from anybody (even the head gaffer himself) but it leaves the Ghana Football Association with a lot of questions to answer.

How will the head coach and the technical adviser man the Black Stars boat? How sure are they that we will not see a turf war?

Is there a change in the chain of the command for the Black Stars players? Who do they respond to in a training session?

Is the head coach mandated to take orders or advice from the technical adviser?

For those of the conspiratorial breed, is the appointment of the technical adviser that first step in a sequence that ends with the sacking of Kwesi Appiah?

Questions, questions, questions and I am sure we will get the answers in due time.

CONCLUSIONS

When we peer through all the talk, we can see that the people at the GFA do agree with all of us that there is something wrong with the technical set up of the Black Stars. They may not say it and really, they must not.

They have added their names to the long list of examples that will support the theory that preaches that a lot of what we say is through non-verbal communication (The rap heads like me quote the 85 percent Beanie Sigel mentions in his rap song In The Air while the scientists talk about a figure that is slightly less).

The search for an adviser or director (pure semantics, if you ask me) could have been avoided if the head coach had been given the necessary support after the 2013 AFCON when he said to the press that he made some technical errors during the tournament.

That was the key point when the missing ingredient should have been added to the equation.

After dancing round the tree to look for the huge orange that was obvious, we are now back where we started and are still looking at the fruit. Just that now, we have purposed to bring in an extra eye.

But the people at the GFA should be reminded of one simple thing.

We will not accept just anybody for the job. We demand the best if indeed the move is to change the technical direction of the team.

The direction we will all be happy with is the one that will soon lead us to a trophy.

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