REVIEW EMBARGO ON EMPLOYMENT (SEPT 21, PAGE 45)

THE Rector of the Wa Polytechnic in the Upper West Region, Professor Sampson Agodzo, has appealed to the Government to review the embargo on employment.
That, he said, would make it possible for infant institutions like the Wa Polytechnic to consolidate their existing programmes and expand into new areas.
According to him, in 2008 and this year, an embargo was placed on the hiring of new staff by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning with a view to managing the country’s public sector wages.
“Apart from putting severe strains on the running of most programmes because of teaching staff, it has become practically impossible to start new programmes because of this embargo,” he said.
Professor Agodzo was speaking at the first congregation of the Wa Polytechnic in Wa on Saturday.
In all, 150 students passed out and were awarded Higher National Diplomas (HND). Mr Clement Angbataayele was the only first-class student.
The polytechnic, which was established 10 years ago, currently runs eight programmes. They are Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Information, Communication Technology (ICT)
The rest are Building Technology, Estate Management, Accountancy, Secretaryship and Management Studies.
“We are in the process of mounting two new programmes in Dispensing Technology and Industrial Art and hope that these new programmes will commence in the 2010/2011 academic year,” the Wa Polytechnic rector said.
Professor Agodzo noted that polytechnics in the country were not producing inferior versions of university graduates but rather providing alternative opportunities for people who wanted to develop a career at the highest academic and professional level.
He said that, therefore, meant that the teaching staff must also be trained differently to produce the right human capital for industrial development.
Professor Agodzo was happy that Wa Poly had some of the best structures in the country, but expressed regret that they were difficult to be equipped and furnished.
He said the polytechnic lacked laboratory and workshop equipment for some of the science and technology programmes and, therefore, appealed to the Government for support.
He paid glowing tribute to all those who had assisted in the development of the polytechnic, particularly Mr Abraham Aidoo, who laid the foundation for the polytechnic project.
He advised the graduates to be job creators instead of job seekers.
The Chairman of the Wa Polytechnic Council, Professor Jacob Songsore, appealed to the President to intervene to ensure the payment of compensation to the landowners who gave out their land for the establishment of the polytechnic.
He said despite the various challenges, the polytechnic was striving hard to become a centre of excellence.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, gave the assurance that the Government would continue to support polytechnic education in the country and commended the polytechnic for its academic excellence and the good job done in the Upper West Region.
Mr Clement Angbataayele, the only graduand with first-class honours, being congratulated by the dignitaries on the dais. With them include a member of the Council of State, Naa Seidu Braima (in smock), and the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid ( 2nd left).