Accra, May 11, GNA - The Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines on Tuesday inaugurated a nine-member committee to examine and make recommendations on the infrastructure requirements for the proposed University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies at Bunso in the Eastern Region.

Professor Dominic Fobih, the Sector Minster, said the committee would also propose any recommendations and steps necessary for the effective resolution of issues relating to the Bunso Cocoa College land. The Committee, which has a month within which to submit its report, would conduct an inventory of the facilities including infrastructure in order to advise on modalities for the possible sharing of facilities of the University with the College.

The committee was set up following a proposal by the Okyenhene Amoatia Ofori Panyin in collaboration with other development partners since 2002 to establish a University College at the site. Prof. Fobih said Government was committed to ensure the productive use of the land in order for the country to benefit from its resource and expressed the hope that the committee would perform its task to lead to the realization of the objective.

He said upgrading the Bunso College to a University was in the right direction and tasked the members to collaborate with the Okyeman Council and focus on concepts that would enable Government to make the necessary consideration.

The committee has Dr Benjamin Kwesi Pratt, immediate past President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors, as Chairman; Mr Wilson J. Pasu, Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands, Secretary; Nana Yentumi Boaman, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Okyenhene and Osabarima Adusei Peasah IV, Tafohene, as members. Other members are Mrs Leticia Acquah of the Lands Commission; Mr Charles Amenyaglo and Mr Ben Owusu Agyeman, both of Cocobod and Mr E. Addo Tawiah of Survey Department.

Dr Pratt expressed appreciation to the Ministry for their appointment and pledged the committee's commitment to work effectively to provide Government with the requisite recommendation. 10 May 06