By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Tarkwa (W/R), Aug 07, GNA – Efforts at enhancing the quality of research targeted at making mining more environmentally sustainable has been given a huge boost with the acquisition of environmental laboratory equipment by the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).
Professor Jerry Kuma, the Vice Chancellor, said this was procured from a « Danida mixed-tied credit facility ».
The equipment had arrived at the Tema Port and part of the consignment already been cleared.
He announced this at the 10th congregation ceremony of the University at Tarkwa where 506 students graduated.
Nine of them were awarded Doctor of Philosophy degree, 46 received Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and 442, had Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree after completing their various engineering programmes of study.
Five others received diploma certificates in drilling and four, presented with certificate in English Language.
Prof Kuma said the draft document on renaming the institution as George Grant University of Mines and Technology, as announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on January 12, this year, had been completed.
It would be presented to the Minister of Education for submission to Parliament for the necessary legislative backing.
The Vice Chancellor spoke of the good progress they were making in their gender mainstreaming agenda – continued to encourage more women to enrol in engineering programmes.
The University’s female population now stands at 405 and the figure constitutes 18 per cent of the total student population.
To strengthen Renewable Energy Engineering programme introduced in the 2017/2018 academic year, the government, had supported them with a €1.2 million facility to procure alternative energy laboratory equipment.
They had additionally been given the green light to replace 78 staff that had left the institution since 2016.
Prof. Kuma complained about inadequate funding and said that had stalled work on a number of projects, they started.
These include the new administration block, four-storey faculty block, two-storey residential accommodation and the two-storey cafeteria block.
He appealed to the government to move quickly to get funds released to complete the projects.
UMaT is the only institution in Ghana permitted to train people in drone piloting.
Prof Kuma pointed out that this was significant because monitoring small scale mining would be enhanced using drone technology.
GNA
JP/KOB
