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Daring to Dream: Inauguration Day, October 9th 2002

TRANSCRIPT: KEYNOTE SPEECH BY MR. PAUL EFFAH, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION, ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Madame Chairperson, Senior Executives of Ashesi University, The President of Ashesi University, Board Members, Faculty, Junior Members and Staff of the University, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It gives me pleasure to speak at the inauguration of Ashesi University. I am indeed honoured to stand before you to share some thoughts on tertiary education in Ghana, and how private tertiary institutions, which include Ashesi University, can contribute to our collective national development goal of improving the quality of life of all Ghanaians by reducing poverty, raising living standards through sustained increase in national wealth and more equitable distribution of benefits therefrom. The advantages of private tertiary education are many and varied:

  • The participation of private tertiary institutions frees government resources to be targeted to the poor and the needy.
  • Private tertiary institutions are creative in their academic programmes; their establishment in Ghana has availed to students a range of choices and introduced healthy competition with the public institutions.

It is our duty as a nation to develop the potential of our people so that they can take part in our socio-economic development. This responsibility goes beyond the government. Indeed, education is the collective responsibility of the entire nation; local, regional, national government as well as NGO's (Non Governmental Organizations) and the private sector. That is why the recent development and growth of private universities is a healthy development for the future of our educational system. Madame Chairperson, the myriad of problems inherent in the state financing of higher education calls for the harnessing of the resources of all stakeholders to finance higher education. It is estimated that only about 30 percent of qualified applicants gain admission into the public universities. This implies that due to limited facilities in public universities, it is impossible to admit all qualified applicants. There is an urgent need to expand access to tertiary education and to establish mechanisms for sustainable financing of tertiary education.

Notwithstanding these challenges, it is the intention of the Government to ensure that all qualified students have access to higher education regardless of their socio-economic situation or any other classifications. Private participation in the provision of university education is, therefore, necessary to reduce the pressure on the state to provide higher education.

The golden age of business (the vision of Ghana's current government) requires that the private sector originates creative and innovative business concepts and maximizes profits in a socially responsible manner. That is why the Government supports the work you do here.

Madame Chairperson, there is the necessity for collaboration between the public institutions and the private ones in producing the human capital needed to move our nation forward. In this vein, I urge Ashesi University, and indeed all private universities, to collaborate with the public institutions to enhance the body of knowledge needed to nurture men and women who will lead Ghana's private and public sectors.

Madame Chairperson, it is gratifying and encouraging to see that Ashesi is focused on its quest to maintain high standards. Your focus on quality and innovation is good for the educational system in Ghana. And in fact, I am pleased that Ashesi places emphasis on ethics and good citizenship.

I am pleased to see that your programmes are based on the liberal arts, which broaden the mind and encourage critical and original thinking. I am also pleased that you have taken bold steps in developing curricula in computer science and business administration, as well as developing close collaboration with top US universities. I am particularly impressed by the use of Information and Communication Technology in all aspects of management, and teaching and learning processes here at Ashesi. That is the way the global economy is moving and Ghana cannot afford to be left out of this new trend.

Madame Chairperson, I have been informed that about 55 percent of students at Ashesi are currently receiving financial aid from the university. This hand of assistance granted your students is in fact commendable and worthy of emulation by other private universities. I applaud your commitment to ensuring equity, and I strongly encourage you to maintain your dedication to gender and ethnic diversity. Ashesi's plans to use financial aid as a means of fostering and maintaining gender balance is very commendable and I hope Ghanaian families will take advantage of this opportunity.

The government of Ghana has decided to include students in private universities in the student loan scheme under the Ghana Educational Trust Fund. Government is also in the process of restructuring the students loan scheme to make it more sustainable.

The National Council for Tertiary Education has planned a workshop for private tertiary institutions to deliberate on the kind of policy environment and regulatory framework to be provided for the operation of private tertiary institutions. Government awaits the recommendations of this workshop.

To the students of Ashesi University, I have this to say: use the opportunity presented by this university to upgrade yourself so that you will be useful to yourself and the nation as a whole. As pioneers you hold a special place in this university. Your performance will have wider implications for the nation and beyond.

Madame Chairperson, it is my pleasure to declare Ashesi University officially open. I congratulate all matriculants. I wish you success in all your endeavors.

THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

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