Berekusu (E/R), Aug. 27, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday called on tertiary institutions to tailor their curricula towards science and technology to produce experts for the development needs of the country.

He said although, some of the institutions had made conscious efforts to diversify in those areas, the experts were woefully inadequate to take up their strategic developmental positions in the areas of engineering, science and technology.

Vice President Mahama who was inaugurating the new site of the Ashesi University in Berekusu in the Eastern Region, said the over concentration of graduates in the humanities without paying attention to the training of technologists and scientists could pose serious developmental challenges to the country.

The Ashesi University became operational in 2002 in a private premise in Labone, Accra, but has now acquired a permanent campus in Berekusu in the Akwapim South District of the Eastern Region with an improved student population of 500.

The University offers undergraduate degree programmes in Computer Science, Management information systems and Business Administration.

Vice President Mahama expressed satisfaction that a number of Universities had sprung up to complement the efforts of public universities, but challenged them to equip students with entrepreneurial skills that would make them self-reliant upon graduation, rather than depending on the perennial non-existent jobs in the public sector.

He commended the chiefs and people of the community for releasing the 100-acre parcel of land to the university to undertake development projects and appealed to landlords throughout the country to partner the private sector to achieve their developmental goals.

Dr Patrick Awuah, Founder and President of the University, said the campus infrastructure was funded by development partners from the United States of America adding, “The quality of this campus is the work of a team inspired by a vision. We have poured our hearts and our intellect into this project.”

He said the campus was designed and constructed by Ghanaian Architects and Engineers and gave the assurance that soon products of the university could take up such jobs in the country.

Odeefoo Oteng Korankye II, Berekusu chief and Twafohene of Akuapem, said they would partner the university to help develop models of business and social programmes geared towards improving livelihoods of local people in the area and other parts of the country.