Kumasi, Sept. 26, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene and Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has lauded Professor Kwesi Andam, outgoing Vice-Chancellor for his dedicated service and commitment to duty that has ensured the speedy growth of the university in recent years.

He commended the outgoing Vice-Chancellor for his creativity, innovativeness and good leadership qualities, which he said had facilitated infrastructure development and the academic restructuring of the university to an appreciable standard.

"You have indeed contributed immensely towards uplifting the image of KNUST through various initiatives and development projects and it is my prayer that you will continue to be dedicated to the university's cause, despite your mandate coming to an end", the Asantehene said. Otumfuo Osei Tutu was speaking at a farewell service organised in honour of Prof Andam by the Wesley Methodist Cathedral in Kumasi on Sunday.

Prof Andam, a member of the church, who was inducted into office as the seventh Vice-Chancellor of KNUST in 2002, will officially end his four-year term at the end of September this year and will be succeeded by Professor Kwasi K. Adarkwah, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the university.

He initiated a total of 27 projects to boost academic work during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor and also succeeded in restructuring the university's faculties into Colleges to bring them to standard. Otumfuo Osei Tutu said as Chancellor of the university he was committed to linking up with corporate bodies and donor agencies to facilitate the university's development and research work. He indicated that such a move was geared towards enabling the university to turn out problem-solving and development-oriented students, who were capable of pursuing the nation's socio-economic aspirations.

Paapa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, called on the private sector to complement government's efforts in the provision of infrastructure to tertiary institutions to boost quality education in the country.

The Most Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, called on people entrusted with leadership positions to be God-fearing, transparent and accountable to their people for an accelerated socio-economic development of the nation.

Prof Andam expressed gratitude to the University Council for the confidence they reposed in him and their unflinching support, which he said enabled him to realise his aims during his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor.