By Benjamin Akoto
Sunyani, (Bono), Aug19, GNA-Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education has inaugurated the Governing Councils of seven Colleges of Education (CoE).
They include the Bagabaga CoE, Gambaga CoE, McCoy CoE, Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya CoE, Tamale CoE, Atebubu CoE, and the Evangelical Presbyterian CoE.
Speaking at a short ceremony in Sunyani, Mr Iddrisu said presently the country has 48 public Colleges of Education, with President John Dramani Mahama’s administration establishing the new Savanna CoE, Ghana Muslim Mission CoE, Beposo CoE and the Christ the Teacher CoE.
He explained that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) was working to finalise the absorption of the newly established CoE into the system.
Mr Iddrisu indicated the construction work on 45 hostels across the colleges began in 2023 with nine of them at various stages of completion, adding that work on 11 of the projects were also progressing, while the remaining ones had stalled.
He said the contracts on the 25 stalled projects had been terminated and re-awarded, saying, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETGFUND) had earmarked GH¢403 million for the completion of the projects.
On completion, he said the facilities would lessen the student accommodation challenges at those CoEs.
Mr Iddrisu expressed the worry that the transition of the CoEs into university status was affecting legal frameworks, saying, the GTEC had been instructed to collaborate with the Attorney General’s office to address the challenge.
He urged the council members to work closely with GTEC on key decision-making processes, especially appointments.
The governing councils were later sworn into office.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah