The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has declared that the NPP government has delivered and will continue to deliver on its commitment to education at all levels as an important lever for meeting the development aspirations of our people.
The Minister made these remarks at a ceremony to commission Phase One of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) and the sod-cutting for Phase Two of the same project at the university campus at Somanya in the Eastern Region, both of which were performed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“It is a matter of pride to note that as we approach the General Elections of 2020, education features prominently in our national conversation. Our record on education and indeed other sectors is admirable, and we look forward to an even more vigorous issues-based campaign” Dr. Prempeh stated.
Under Phase One of the project, the following facilities have been constructed;
Lecture Hall for the School of Natural and Environmental Science Multi-Purpose Auditorium for School of Natural and Environmental Science Laboratory Building for School of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship Development
Faculty Offices (Administration Block) for the School of Agriculture and Agro-Entrepreneurship Development
Vice Chancellor's Residency Pro Vice-Chancellors' Residency Key Officers' Residency
The cost of this phase is Forty-five million, Five Hundred and Seventy-five Thousand Euros (€45,575,000.00). This was under a Commercial Agreement with M/S Contracta Construzione through Financing Agreements with the Deutsche Bank S.p.A and the Export Credit Guarantee from Italy. The official commencement date for the project was set on January 9, 2018, and was completed on 21st October 2019.
Phase Two involves the provision of the following facilities:
· Lecture Halls
· Main Library
· Laboratory
· Football Pitch
· Handball/Basket Ball
· Badminton
· Tennis Court
· Tartan Track
The contract agreement was signed on 6th May 2020. The EPC/Turnkey Contract Agreement with M/S Contracta is valued at Forty-nine million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Ninety-eight Euros (€49,891,098.00) for completion within 30months.
Further to this, the Government of Ghana has received a loan from the Export-Import Bank of Korea from the resources of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Republic of Korea in the amount of US$90,000,000 toward the cost of the Establishment of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Bunso Campus Project. The loan agreement was signed in 2018.
The project consists of the following components:
a. Building Construction Works
b. Provision of Equipment
c. Capacity Building
d. Post-project Operational Support
e. Consulting Services
President Akufo-Addo announced that government, through the Ministry of Finance, has granted financial clearance to the university to recruit an initial 300 staff members to enable its smooth take-off. The Interim Council is also expected to commence recruitment of its first batch of undergraduate students for the 2020/2021 academic year.
In attendance at the colourful ceremony were government ministers, Members of Parliament, officials from the Ministry of Education and its agencies, university officials, traditional rulers, clergymen and a cross-section of the Ghanaian public.
