The University of Professional Studies, Accra has conferred on three personalities honorary awards for their exceptional service and performance in their areas of expertise.
Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws together with the Member of Parliament for Nandowli West, Alban Bagbin whilst CEO of Groupe Ideal, Dr Nii Kotei Dzani was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Business.
The honorary doctorates were conferred on them by the Chancellor of the University, Drolor Bosso Adamtey I.
Mr Bagbin who spoke on behalf of the honorees said they were humbled by the recognition.
“It is gratifying to note that our little contributions in our chosen fields of endeavour, particularly in shaping Ghana’s democracy and business have been recognised by your esteemed institution,” he said.
He stated that, “we are by this award more energised and spurred on to do more towards the development of mother Ghana” adding that there was still more to be done despite the successes the country has achieved in its democratic dispensation and national development.
Leave our Internally Generated Funds alone - UPSA Vice Chancellor to government
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, has called on the government to take a second look at the requirement for all public Universities to pay 34% of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to government.
According to Professor Amartey, it is not right for government to pocket a percentage of the IGF public Universities make because most of the institutions rely on it for the development of infrastructure and other pertinent matters.
He said, “Apart from staff emolument and funding for very few projects which the government provides, the University of Professional Studies like other public Universities has to rely on IGF for its operations. What makes matters worse for UPSA, in particular, is that whilst every public university were given some seed money, our University was not fortunate enough to have enjoyed like this from the government.”
Speaking at UPSA’s 9th congregation on Saturday, the Vice Chancellor noted that the decision taken by the government would worsen the monetary challenges public Universities face and advised the government to review its decision to augment efficient performance of public tertiary institutions.
He said, “The implication is that the University had to rely mainly on IGF to develop its physical infrastructure, facilities for research, teaching and learning as well as the provision of office equipment and other facilities. From the foregoing, parting away with the 34% of IGF will have dire consequences on the finance of this University especially when we have contracted loans from the banks to fund our projects”
Prof Amartey added, “I wish therefore to humbly appeal that Government, therefore, takes a second look at this matter and allow public Universities to keep the entire 100% of the IGF for the smooth functioning of the Universities.”
Prior to this, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, also appealed to government to revisit the issue of financial clearance and allow public universities to retain 100 per cent of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF). He said this would allow institutions to operate at optimal levels and continue training the next generation of leaders for the nation.
