Ho (Volta Region) - The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), Ghana, is to sponsor a university and launch it by the end of this month, Reverend Frank Anku, the Synod Clerk of the Church, said on Thursday.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Ho in a telephone interview regarding progress made on the university, he explained that the launching which was to have taken place in November last year, had to be delayed because of unforeseen circumstances. He explained that President John Kufuor has officially been informed to perform the launching ceremony and because of his heavy official engagements, it was not possible for the launching before 2002.

Rev Anku said the University's campuses would be located at the Church's Seminary at Peki, its Training school at Alavanyo and a "segment at Mawuli School" since it would not be possible to develop the necessary infrastructure on land acquired for the project immediately because of the financial implications.

He explained that under the circumstances the use of campuses offered the most feasible way of getting the university off the ground. Rev Anku could however, not say how much would be involved in developing the infrastructure on the site acquired for the university.

He said there are promising signals that assistance would be forthcoming from the Church's partners in Europe and the United States (US). He said the University would offer admissions for under-graduate studies in Agriculture, Information Technology (IT), Social Sciences and Post Graduate degree in Theology. He the recruitment of lecturers would be determined by the financial implications, adding "We are determined to start in 2003, not beyond".