Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Minister of Education, has said government will pay at least one million Ghana Cedis annually to the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), to support its research and staff development.

She said government recognizes the immense contributions the university is making in the mining industry, which provides greater part of the national income.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang gave the assurance in a speech read on her behalf at the sixth congregation of the University.

In addition, the Minister said two million Ghana Cedis would be made available to the University through the Ghana National Petroleum Company, to assist in transforming the Department of Petroleum Engineering into a School of Petroleum Studies.

The Minister noted that since UMaT is the only mining University in Ghana and the whole of Africa, devoted solely for the training of manpower, government will continue to take full responsibility.

She congratulated the graduating students for their hard work and determination, and urged them to use the training acquired at the University to promote the Ghanaian industry, and act as good ambassadors of the institution.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Jerry Kuma, said the school chalked a remarkable milestone in the 2013-2014 academic year.

He said during this period, the University enhanced its teaching and research capacity, by improving its internet access to students and staff at a high speed from a 24 megabyte bandwidth to 45 megabyte bandwidth.

Prof Kuma expressed gratitude to the Wassa-Fiase Omanhene, Osagyefo Dr Kwamena Enimil the sixth, for donating a 26-square kilometre land for a new campus.

He said the University has completed the documentation and surveying of the land, while the designs for a 10-kilometre access road on the University's new site, have also been completed.

The Vice Chancellor said the University was in the process of exploring how to finance the access roads project.

Out of the 410 graduands, the school of postgraduate studies provided 39, with one obtaining a PhD in Geological Engineering and the rest Master’s degrees.

The faculty of Mineral Resources Technology had 221 gradaunds, with a total of 50 obtaining first class bachelor's degrees.

The faculty of Engineering also graduated 147 students, with 24 of them gaining first class bachelor's degrees.

There was also one graduate from the Centre for Communication and Entrepreneurship skills who obtained a certificate in English.

Mr Danso Kwabena Agyei emerged the overall best student, and as his prize, he received a plaque, set of books and 2,000 Ghana cedis cash.

The best female student award also went to Miss Eliza Akua Birago Oppong. The award category was sponsored by the Member of Parliament for the Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs. Gifty Kusi.