UNIVERSITY PROJECT KICKS OFF IN LOWER MANYA-KROBO

A view of the compound

The flagship building of the school in its blueprint

Preparatory work at the site

Construction work has started on a modern University College to train students 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 the 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, will offer courses including Environmental / Occupational Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Behavioural Science & Health Management. The College, located off the Kpong-Tema Highway and about a minute drive from the Kpong Township, is slated to take off with its first batch of postgraduate admissions 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.

Preparatory works are ongoing with demarcations and heaps of construction materials all over the neatly graded parcel of land.

Dr. Kwesi Dugbartey (left) in a chat with the writer, Henking Adjase-Kodjo

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”.

Dr. Dugbatey said Kpong was most suited for the college because it has all the rural characteristics that would make practical teaching and learning easier. He said it also has easy access to both the Volta and Greater Accra Regions.

“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. Ahadjie, pointing something at the site to Dr. Dugbartey

Mr. Richard K. Ahadjie, Managing Director of 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.

http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/education/201206/89096.php
Published: August 27, 2012, Myjoyonline & Daily