Koforidua, Sept. 1, 2006 - The Koforidua Polytechnic Council has appointed a Chemical Engineer with the College of Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr George Afrane, as Principal of the Polytechnic. The appointment of Dr Afrane brings to a close, nearly a year's search for a substantive Principal as replacement for the retired Dr Henry Appiah, the pioneering head of the first tertiary institution in the Eastern Region.

A native of Kwahu Aduamaoh, the new Principal brings to his new job more than 22 years of teaching, research and moderation in tertiary education in Ghana.

Dr Afrane took an honors' Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from KNUST in 1979, before graduating with a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy degree also in Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt University and the University of Rochester, both in the United States of America.

Dr Afrane told the GNA in an interview at Koforidua on Friday, that his vision was to make Koforidua Polytechnic the best in the country in terms of the quality of its students and its programmes. As a consequence of this drive, he announces, the intention to introduce engineering programmes at the Polytechnic beginning in 2007, after a successful establishment of a School of Engineering for which a committee has been constituted.

The new Principal spoke about his 22 years of extensive work in the University and quasi-tertiary institutions such as the National Accreditation Board and the National Board for Technical Education (NABTEX) and said he would draw on those experiences to make the Koforidua Polytechnic a school of choice. Mr S.T. Okorley who was acting during the interregnum, died within months in a motor accident while on an assignment on the Koforidua-Kumasi road. Mr Obeng Duodu then became the second acting Principal till Dr Afrane took over. 01 Sept. 06