Wa, Sept. 19, GNA - The first three batches of 250 Higher National Diploma (HND) students of the Wa Polytechnic were awarded with their certificates at the first congregation of the polytechnic on Saturday. The graduates completed their respective programmes in Agricultural Engineering, Accountancy and Secretaryship and Management Studies in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Professor Sampson Agodzo, the Rector, said the polytechnic, which now has 1,921 students with eight programmes of study, was officially established in 1999 but it was not until 2002 that a Governing Council was appointed to provide policy direction for its operation. He said the first batch of students was admitted in 2003 to pursue HND programmes in the various courses on borrowed premises. It has now moved to its permanent site at Kpongu, about six kilometres from Wa, following the completion of infrastructure. As a result, the school has admitted more students to pursue HND programmes in Civil, Mechanical and Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Applied Science and Technology and Cosmetology. Prof. Agodzo said the Polytechnic had the vision to become a world class centre for applied technology and career focused-education for rural poverty reduction and national development. It is aimed at producing graduates who were career-focused with skills suitable to the needs of industry, the community and the country at large.

"Polytechnics should produce graduates who are job creators and not job seekers," he added. Mr Mahmud Khalid, Upper West Regional Minister, who read a speech on behalf of President John Atta Mills, said it was the desire and determination of the government to see the polytechnics succeed in offering the right kind of education for the youth. The polytechnics must therefore reciprocate that gesture by providing quality leadership and manpower needed by industries. He urged the graduates to work hard, persevere and be dedicated to be able to succeed in life adding that they must make constant efforts to positively change the lives of the people around them. "Successful men and women are driven by passion and commitment," he stated.

Professor Jacob Songsore, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, said the need for human capital to serve as catalyst for industrial development informed the establishment of the polytechnic. He commended the government and the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council for their massive support in developing the polytechnic to this level.

The great role played by Mr. Abraham Kofi Kuma-Aidoo, the first Rector, in infrastructural development of the polytechnic was a subject of positive comments by both the Rector and Professor Songsore. Professor Songsore used the occasion to launch Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and HIV/AIDS policy documents for the polytechnic. 19 Sept. 09