The construction of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (Eastern University) has faced series of criticisms as many thought the fate of the University will be in limbo, but the Municipal Chief Executive of Yilo Krobo Hon Ebenezer Tetteh Kupualor has told Rite Morning Ride, all things being equal, the University would be inaugurated on the 30th of August 2019.
Speaking on Rite Fm’s Morning Ride, Mr Kupualor said the construction of the university has been a priority to the NPP government steered by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo, the president of the Republic due to his commitment to education.
“This is the first time government is establishing a public university in the Eastern Region. The University is currently at the finishing stage and will start admitting students by January 2020. Besides, this will mark the first phase of the university and the second phase would be linked to the municipal hospital which would be expanded and used as a teaching hospital in Somanya,” Mr. Kupualor said.
The sod cutting ceremony at Somanya, UESD.
“Many people thought we would not be able to build the university and even when we were on course of construction, they said we were moving it to Bunsu. This was mere propaganda adopted by the opposition National Democratic Congress to throw dust into the eyes of the good people of Ghana, but we have proved them wrong,” he said.
Hon Ebenezer Tetteh Kupualor advised the youth especially in his area to take their studies seriously in order to grab the opportunities the university resent.
“I will urge the Krobo youth to go to school, learn hard and benefit from the free SHS policy so that you can get admission into the University,” he said.
President John Dramani Mahama Planting Tree as part of the sod cutting in 2016
The Eastern University of Environment and Sustainable Development which covers 521-hectare site will host the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, the School of Agric and Agro-Entrepreneurship Development, a multi-purpose hall, lecture halls, administrative offices, the vice-chancellor’s residence as well as the pro vice-chancellor’s residence, residences for key officers and a students’ hostel.
Leading up to this, the United Krobo Foundation suspected that plans were underway to move the Somanya Campus to Bunso, a move the youth group disapproved.
Subsequently, the youth group gave the government a 14-day ultimatum to back down on the decision to move the Eastern region’s University of Environment and Sustainable Development from Somanya to Bunso.
According to the group, failure on the part of the government to heed to their call will lead to turmoil.
President Akufo Addo Visits Eastern University site.
“The Government must reverse its decision within a clear fourteen (14) days to bring peace”, they warned.
According to them, during the 2012 elections, former President John Mahama promised to construct a University in the Eastern region in line with his policy of establishing a university in each region. The former president subsequently inaugurated a committee to develop a roadmap for its establishment with its two campuses in Somanya and Donkorkrom in Afram Plains.
In lieu of that, the group demonstrated through the principal streets of Odumase and Somanya to register their displeasure over what they claim as a subtle attempt by the government to site the main campus of the first Eastern region university at Bunso.
In similar development, the Eastern Regional Branch of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), also said it will use all legal means to resist government’s attempts to move the main campus from Somanya to Bunso as well as the Donkorkrom Campus of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development to Kyebi.
The Donkokrom satellite campus is yet to witness commencement of work.
By: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org/austinofori.addo@gmail.com
