The Koforidua Polytechnic is to establish a School of Health and Allied Sciences as part of its strategic plan to provide access to quality education.

The Polytechnic would also establish a Department of Food, Science and Technology.

Professor Reynolds Okai, Rector of the Polytechnic, announced this when he led a delegation of lecturers and two eminent scientists to pay separate courtesy calls on Mr. Victor Smith, Eastern Regional Minister, in his office in Koforidua and Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, at his palace.

The two Scientists, Professor Momar Ndao and Professor Ben Simpson, both from the University of Montreal-Canada, had shipped a quantity of science equipment to be donated to the Polytechnic for the take-off of the project.

Professor Okai indicated that management of the Polytechnic had realized that in the area of health, manpower requirement was limited and therefore they decided to fill the gab.

The Rector appealed to the Regional Minister for assistance towards the establishment of a Police Post at the Polytechnic to check armed robbery cases in the area.

Mr. Smith lauded the efforts of the Polytechnic to establish the Allied Science and gave the assurance that the government would assist towards the speedy implementation of the project.

He expressed the hope that the Polytechnic would be turned into a University in the not too distant future, taking into consideration the massive infrastructure the government was undertaking in the area.

Daasebre Oti Boateng called for proper health education in the communities on sanitation to help reduce the outbreak of communicable diseases.

He noted that life expectancy in Ghana would increase and the burden on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would reduce if all practiced good sanitation.**