The Ministry of Finance has granted financial clearance to public universities in the country to recruit new academic staff to augment their faculties to ensure quality education at the tertiary level.

President John Mahama, who announced this at the first congregation of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (Uhas) in Ho on Saturday, said a total of 1,018 lecturers will be recruited as requested by the universities.

Mahama disclosed that special allocations have been made in the GetFund budget towards the provision of physical infrastructure and other facilities for both Uhas and the University of Energy and Natural Resources in the Brong Ahafo region.

The university, established by the late President John Mills in December 2011 through an Act of Parliament, had its first students intake in September 2012.

A total of 171 students graduated from the Uhas with degrees in the various health related disciplines, including nursing, midwifery, public health, laboratory sciences, physician assistantship among others.

The foundation Vice Chancellor of the Uhas, Professor Fred Binka in his report said the university has made significant strides in its four years of existence, and announced that processes are underway for the commencement of Uhas School of Pharmacy at Keta.

As part of the maiden graduation, the university also conferred honorary doctorate degrees on the wife of the late President, Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, Professor Samuel Sefah Dedeh and Dr. Christian Botchway.