The Management of Sunyani Technical University (STU), led by the Vice-Chancellor, Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, on Thursday, 20th February 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Bono Regional Minister, Lawyer Joseph Addae Akwaboa, at his office in Sunyani.
The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the Minister on his new appointment and commended him for assuming the responsibility of representing the President at the regional level. He encouraged him to carry out his duties diligently and leave a lasting impact on the region.
During the visit, the university delegation took the opportunity to discuss some pressing challenges facing the institution. One of the key concerns raised was the malfunctioning traffic light at the university’s entrance, which poses a major safety risk for students and staff. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that the university had made several follow-ups with the Municipal Assembly and Urban Roads Department without any resolution. The university also engaged the Police MTTD for assistance in directing traffic, but the situation remains unresolved. He, therefore, requested that a pedestrian footbridge be constructed at the traffic light to ensure the safety of students and the university community.
Another major challenge highlighted was the accommodation crisis on campus. The Vice-Chancellor noted that STU's student population has now surpassed 10,000, creating a shortage of hostels for students. Most students are currently forced to seek accommodation outside campus, which poses various challenges. He appealed to the Regional Minister to assist in securing additional accommodation facilities to help address the situation.
The issue of classroom infrastructure was also raised, as the growing student population has resulted in an insufficient number of lecture halls. The Vice-Chancellor urged the Minister to help facilitate the completion of the GETFund Science Park project, which has been stalled for several years. He revealed that the project started in 2007, and while Phase 1 has been completed, the remaining phases have not progressed. STU has made multiple follow-ups with the GETFund Secretariat and even engaged the Minister of Education on the issue, but a lasting solution is yet to be found.
The university also called for improvements in campus road infrastructure, particularly around the Waterloo campus area. The Vice-Chancellor appealed for asphalt overlays on the road network to enhance mobility and safety on campus. He further emphasised that since the Regional Minister is an alumnus and a former lecturer at STU, he has firsthand knowledge of the university’s challenges and should consider leaving a lasting legacy by addressing some of these pressing issues.
In response, Hon. Joseph Addae Akwaboa expressed gratitude to STU Management for the visit and acknowledged the university’s contribution to his personal and professional growth. He recounted his journey at STU, where he first enrolled as a student, later became a part-time lecturer in 2015, and was subsequently employed as a full-time lecturer in 2017. He also expressed appreciation to Mr. Obour, Registrar, for the mentorship and support he provided during his time as a student and lecturer.
The Minister assured the STU team that he would immediately engage the Municipal Assembly to find a swift solution to the malfunctioning traffic light at the university entrance. He also promised to initiate a major project on campus before leaving office and asked the university to submit a priority list of projects requiring urgent attention. Additionally, he requested a copy of the GETFund Science Park project documents to facilitate a follow-up for its completion.
As part of his development agenda, the Regional Minister disclosed plans to embark on a cashew-processing research project and announced that STU would be leading the research component of the initiative. He stated that Ghana has not fully explored the processing of cashew apples, which could serve as an economic opportunity. His vision is to establish small-scale factories to process cashew apples and maximize their economic benefits. He, therefore, tasked the university to conduct comprehensive research on cashew apple processing and provide technical guidance on how best to commercialize the initiative.
The Vice-Chancellor welcomed the idea and assured the Minister of STU’s full commitment to carrying out the research. He proposed the immediate formation of a research committee to begin work on the cashew processing project.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks from Mr. Stephen Yeboah, Head of Human Resource Development at STU, who expressed appreciation to the Minister for his warm hospitality and willingness to support the university.
The STU management team present at the meeting included Mr. Thomas Kwarfo, Director of Finance; Mr. Frank Owusu, Deputy Registrar, Vice-Chancellor’s Secretariat; Dr. Evelyn Adomah Benneh, Acting University Librarian; Mr. Stephen Yeboah, Human Resource Development; Mr. Samuel Nketiah, Acting Director of Works & Physical Development; Mr. Henry Anim-Acquah, Industrial Liaison Officer; Mr. Joseph Obour, Acting Director of Internal Audit; Mr. Seth Sarsah Wilson, Acting Head of Public Relations Office; and the University’s Legal Affairs Head.
Accompanying the Regional Minister was Mr. Andrews Mensah, Chief Director at the Bono Regional Minister’s Office.
The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to supporting STU and assured management of his availability to assist the university whenever needed.