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20.03.2012 General News

Minister Freezes New Projects

20.03.2012 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

The Minister of Education, Lee Ocran, has expressed concern about the incessant commissioning of new projects while old ones that needed attention were nowhere near completion.

According to him, the phenomenon had become too rampant within the ministry, thereby flooding the country with many uncompleted and unattended projects, which in the long run were not completed to serve the people.

As a result, the education minister hinted that henceforth, all new projects would be put on hold in order to give the old projects which had been abandoned, the leeway to be completed.

Mr. Ocran was speaking in Ho during a tour of the facilities of the Ho Polytechnic at the request of the Rector, Dr. Jakpasu Afun.

Apparently, the polytechnic had two uncompleted GETFund projects, a five-storey lecturers' flat and a five-storey block for the Faculty of Arts and Designs.

The buildings, which were supposed to have been completed long ago, were only about 40% complete.

The education minister expressed worry about the delay and wondered why a GETFund project of such magnitude was moving at such a snail's pace. There was no one at site at the time the minister and his entourage visited the place.

Mr. Ocran observed that the phenomenon contributed to the fight among political parties over who had ownership rights over various projects, a situation he bemoaned.

He therefore stressed that now that he was at the helm of affairs, he would ensure that the GETFund formula for funding projects was strictly adhered to. He also assured Ghanaians that he was going to make sure that all existing projects under the care of the ministry were given the needed attention in order to benefit all.

He also visited the laboratories and workshops of the polytechnic which were woefully resourced, with some of the 'equipment and tools older than the lecturers using them'.

The education minister called for patience as he assured educational institutions that government had made some provisions to furnish all labs and workshops in second cycle and tertiary institutions across the country.

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Henry Ametefe, noted that government would not relent in its efforts to improve education in the country. He also called on the striking polytechnic lecturers to try and dialogue with the right quarters instead of taking entrenched positions.

Also on the tour were the Vice Rector of the Ho Polytechnic, Dr. Samuel Addo, the Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC, Kwesi Aboagye, the Ho Muncipal Chief Executive, Isaac Kodobisah and other officials from the Education Ministry.

From Fred Duodu, Ho
 

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