Accra Polytechnic is to run degree, diploma and certificate programmes in Sports and Health Sciences in the 2014/2015 academic year.

The school has also been given the rights to host the 3rd edition of the West Africa Polytechnic Games Association scheduled to kick off from August 6 to August 16, 2014.

Professor Sylvester Achio, Rector of the Polytechnic said this on Saturday at the 13th Graduation ceremony in Accra, during which 1,715 students were awarded with Higher National Diploma certificates.

Out of the graduating students, 1.5 per cent obtained First Class, 37 per cent obtained Second Class Upper, 53 per cent had Second Class Lower and 2 per cent came out with pass.

Fifty four per cent of the graduating students belong to the School of Business and Management Studies, 28 per cent to School of Engineering and 18 per cent to the School of Applied Sciences and Arts.

Prof Achio said the 109 Fashion Design and Textiles students who went through the Competency Based Training mode of learning and certification were awarded with certificates.

He said the school runs 15 programmes and two Bachelor of Technology programmes in Fashion Design and Textiles and Science Laboratory Technology.

Prof Achio said the academic facility is committed to introduce new, attractive and market-driven academic programmes.

“In response to the changing trends across the globe and to satisfy the requirements for the implementation of the Performance Contract that Accra Polytechnic signed with the Ministry of Education, we launched our 2013 to 2018 strategic plan aimed at meeting our developmental projects,” he added.

He commended Ghana Education Trust Fund for providing funds for staff and infrastructural development.

Prof Achio said works on an eight-storey Information and Communication Technology and examination complex and 10-storey mechanical engineering block are ongoing.

He said the Polytechnic has instituted a scheme to fund competitive research proposals from staff as well as internal research, exhibition and poster conferences, which serves as platforms for discussing staff research findings and improving upon future research works.

A speech read on behalf of Vice-President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur said Polytechnics play a unique role in the economic transformation of every country.

“For years there has been a glaring gap in the country’s manpower needs, where a technical workforce with hands-on and practical skills is needed to move industry, therefore the rationale for Polytechnic education is to produce a critical core of technical workforce with practical skills to fill the yawning gap,” he added.

The Vice-President urged the graduates to exhibit high moral and ethical values as they play their roles and consider entrepreneurship as an option in making significant contributions to national development.

Prof Joshua Alabi, Council Chairman of Accra Polytechnic said the body has played a significant role in providing strategic direction to the Institute and ensure that its aims and objectives are realised.

He said the Council would continue to ensure that the school provides tertiary education in the fields of manufacturing, commerce, science, technology, and applied science and arts.

A special award was given to Prof Alabi for his outstanding contributions to the polytechnic and the society. Deserving students who excelled in their fields of disciplines were also awarded.