Vice-Principal of Ohawu Agricultural College, Prince D.K Nyikplorkpo has said that neither he nor the institution he represents can give timelines to provide certificates to students who completed the school in 2018.

His reaction follows agitations from 2018 batch of students who received training in various courses about the school’s failure to provide their necessary certification, two years after completion.

The Ohawu Agricultural College, an affiliate institution of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) was established and made functional in 1964 by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, purposely to offer programmes and courses to develop middle-level manpower for the agricultural sector.

Interacting exclusively with GhanaWeb, the vice-principal of the school, Prince D.K Nyikplorkpo expressed considerable worry over the plight of students but also emphasized that he is not responsible for providing students their certificates.

He said several attempts to reach a consensus with students to reach a level ground with students have proven futile, resulting in insults mostly directed his way.

“I can’t give a timeline, we’re in a discussion, we don’t issue certificates and we don’t award them. We are affiliated to University of Cape Coast so until they issue, I can’t give a timeline…,” Mr Nyikplorkpo said.

He said Diploma Certificates are awarded by UCC, while that for the Certificate programme is awarded by the HRDMD of MoFA. The College issues them out as and when they are awarded and released by the two entities.

I’ve not played any role in the delay of certification

Contrary to the assumption by affected students that the vice principal has played a key role in the delay of issuance of their certificate, Mr Nyikplorkpo has sought to vindicate himself.

According to him, he assumed office in 2018 after the batch in question had completed and hence inherited the current dilemma which he was oblivious to until he requested students' pass slip from UCC.

However, on his part, he told GhanaWeb that he has tried his best to reach out to UCC to speed up its processes issuing the certificates.

“We’re still as at now waiting for UCC... I discussed with my principal that final year students are coming out so after we’ve settled them, we’ll find time and go to Cape Coast and sit down with and see we can solve the problem.”

I’m ready to give letters of attestation

As an alternative means to help students affected by delay to get jobs, Mr Nyikplorkpo also indicated that he is ready in his capacity to issue letters of attestation.

He indicated that he's already been issuing such letters to students prior to this.

“If the employers will be ready to accept attestation, I’ll be giving it out to them so those who request, I’ll give it to them. Apart from that, I don’t know what can be done…I've been doing this already.”

UCC Response

Based on the accounts, GhanaWeb followed up to get reactions from the University of Cape Coast.

Deputy Registrar at the Directorate of Public Affairs, Major Rtd Kofi Baah Bentum told GhanaWeb in an interview that the school has already begun talks with authorities of the Ohawu Agricultural College.

Thus, all bottlenecks which account for the delay in the certification of the batch in question will be settled in the coming weeks.

He, however, discounted the vice principal’s claims that he had no part to play in the delay of certification.

“…So, what he is talking about (Prince D.K Nyikplorkpo) it is partly true and partly untrue. The reason is that he has a part to play and the university also has a part to play. The conundrum right now is, they’re supposed to upload some results to our system which they have not done everything they’re supposed to do…But we’ve spoken and agreed on what do so I’m sure within this week we can reach an agreement and very soon the students will have their certificates…,” he said.