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UNIVERSITY PROJECT KICKS OFF IN LOWER MANYA KROBO DISTRICT

By Henking A. Adjase-Kodjo (Odumase-Krobo)
Regional News UNIVERSITY PROJECT KICKS OFF IN LOWER MANYA KROBO DISTRICT
JUN 26, 2012 LISTEN

Construction work has started on a modern University College to train in post graduate courses in Public Health at Kpong in the Lower Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region

The project which is expected to be completed in fifteen months is a brain child of Dr. Joseph Kwesi Dugbatey, a retired Aviation Medical Doctor and supported by University of Utah, a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, United States.

When completed, Ensign College of Public Health, as it would be called, located off the Kpong-Tema Highway and about a minute drive away from the Kpong Township will offer courses including Environmental / Occupational Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Behavioural Science & Health Management. The College is slated to take off with its first batch of postgraduate admission in September next year.

With an initial development to cover approximately 8000sqm out of a total of 16 acres, the educational complex will include a 3-storey main building to house administrative offices, conference rooms, lecture rooms, library & ICT centers as well as offices for lecturers.

It would also include a 3-storey self-contained post graduate students' hostel and a 4-storey building of 24 rooms each to house a maximum of four students. Others facilities include a single storey dining hall and kitchen, 3 storey building of six(6) apartments each with a bedroom, a single-storey building of nine(9) bedsitter apartments for visiting lectures as well as a single storey 4-bedroom house to accommodate the dean of the school.

There would also be recreational facilities to include cafeteria/summer huts, swimming pool, tennis, volleyball and baseball courts with paved driveways and car parks.

At the time of the visit of the Daily Graphic, preparatory works were ongoing with demarcations and heaps of construction materials all over the neatly graded parcel of land.

In an interview, Dr. Dugbatey confirmed that “The first intake would be in September next year specifically for postgraduate courses to be followed shortly with doctorate and subsequently undergraduate (first degree) courses. I also intend to add a modern hospital to the facilities on campus to readily serve as a practical training ground for the students”.

Asked about the motivation behind the project, he said “ I want to - as a native of the area- give back to the Krobo community and help improve the well being of my people, others in the surrounding communities and Ghanaians in general”.

He said Kpong was most suited for the college because it has all the rural characteristics that would make practical teaching and learning easier. It also central and has easy access to both the Volta and Greater Accra Regions apart from the Eastern Region in which it is located.

“Due process has since started to get the college properly affiliated to the University of Ghana or the University of Utah, the partner University ahead of the take off in September 2013”, Dr. Dugbatey disclosed.

Mr. Richard K. Ahadjie, Managing Director Rema-Alma Company Limited, the firm undertaking the construction work confirmed the duration of the project and said his outfit was working around the clock to meet the deadline.

Shots of preparatory works taken from the siteShots of preparatory works taken from the site

The front view of the college as captured in its blue printThe front view of the college as captured in its blue print

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