The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling infrastructure challenges in Colleges of Education across the country.
Speaking at the 8th congregation ceremony of the Gbewaa College of Education in the Upper East Region, themed “The Role of Teacher Education in Promoting Peace and Security: A Prerequisite for Sustainable Development,” he emphasized that address challenges in the education sector is an integral part of the government’s resetting agenda policy.
The minister highlighted key areas of focus, including addressing infrastructure deficits in tertiary institutions, resolving feeding grant challenges in Colleges of Education, reviving stalled GetFund projects, and improving campus road networks.
He assured the lecturers and management of Gbewaa College of Education that they would receive their fair share of development, as the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is committed to social justice.
“I have taken kind notice of the inadequacy in furniture, lecture halls and the stalled 350 bed capacity special hostel facility and wish to assure you that our resetting agenda would resolve most of these challenges in the wake of growing student population,” he said.
The minister also acknowledged the impact of the Bawku conflict on the college’s teaching staff and pledged that the government would work tirelessly to enhance security in the Upper East Region, to ensure a safe environment for both teachers and students.
“As a government, we are working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the peaceful resolution of the dispute. Let us harness our energies into positive endeavours for the promotion of peace and security as prerequisite for sustainable development,” he said.
He urged the graduates to become agents of change as they enter the teaching profession, emphasizing their role in shaping attitudes and modeling character.
In his address, the Principal of Gbewaa College of Education, Dr. Halifax Musah, praised the graduates for persevering through challenges such as the teachers strikes and the prolonged insecurity in Bawku.
He also commended the college staff for their dedication and thanked the Bawku Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, for his support to the college since he assumed office as principal.
Dr. Musah also used the occasion to highlight the college’s pressing challenges, including insufficient feeding grants, inadequate staff, stalled GetFund projects, and poor campus road networks.
For his part, the Guest Speaker, Prof. Samuel Atintono, noted that the Bawku conflict has significantly disrupted education in Bawku and the Upper East Region as a whole.
He revealed that many teachers have fled the Bawku area, and some students have been unable to attend school due to the conflict.
In this regard, he called for the inclusion of conflict management and peacebuilding in the curriculum of Colleges of Education.
According to him, this would equip teachers with the skills to manage conflicts and pass on these competencies to their students, fostering a culture of peace and security.
Mike 105.3 FM | Navrongo | Castro Senyalah with files from RCC PR Unit
