Dr Addo-Kufuor’s one year in office as Chancellor of KsTU

In September 2022, the former Member of Parliament (MP) of the then Manhyia Constituency and Minister of Defence in the erstwhile Kufuor administration was sworn into office as the first Chancellor of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), formerly Kumasi Polytechnic.

KsTU was one of the 10 polytechnics which were converted into technical universities in the country to train the needed technical workforce to spearhead the industrialisation of the country.

The objective was to train that middle-level manpower with competencies in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) that would not only meet the demands of industry but also create employment for themselves and reduce the graduate unemployment rate in the country. 

Appointment

The appointment of Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor as the Chancellor of one of the oldest polytechnics in the country was therefore, to guide the university in achieving its mandate of training that skilled manpower required by industry.

This year marks exactly one year since his appointment to the highest office in the academia and has since been involved in rewriting the history of the institution.

He has been the brain behind many of the ground-breaking initiatives undertaken by KsTU which are geared towards the growth and the holistic development of the students.

 Initiatives

As part of the efforts to encourage students to come out with more innovations in IT, the Chancellor established the Addo-Kufuor Prize for Best Student in ICT.

This initiative was launched to identify and reward achievements in IT education and he personally funded the award with support from the Chief Executive Officer of the Angel Group of Companies, Kwaku Oteng. 

The Agyaba Jewellery Workshop

Using his influence, the Chancellor has managed to get one of the leading jewellery companies in the Ashanti Region, Agyaba Jewellery, to establish a workshop at its Adako-Jachie campus to give hands-on training to the students and prepare them for the market.

In the words of the University Relations Officer of KsTU, Dr Charles Obeng-Sarpong, “Dr Addo-Kufuor's vision for a jewellery workshop and showroom is gaining momentum.

“The estate designs and bill of quantities for this project have been meticulously prepared by the University's Estate Office to be presented to the CEO of Agyaba Jewellery for his consideration.”

 “This initiative underscores Dr Addo-Kufuor's dedication to providing hands-on training opportunities for students,” he said.

Industrial attachments

In order to get the students prepared for the job market, through the effort of the Chancellor, KsTU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some industries to provide space for industrial training for the students. One of such companies is Niche Cocoa.

Under the MoU, students from KsTU would use the facilities of the companies for their practical training and also expose the students to the employment opportunities within the value chain in the cocoa industry.

A similar agreement has been reached between the university and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Ghana Manufacturers’ Association.

So far, KsTU has submitted the names of a significant number of students to the CEOs of the Manufacturers’ Association for placement of students for practical attachments. 

Dr Obeng-Sarpong said, “through the effort of the Chancellor, in collaboration with the president of Ghana Manufacturers’ Association, a substantial number of KsTU students have secured opportunities in various high-profile companies in the country for industrial attachment.

Partnership with GOIL

From the URO, KsTU signed another MoU with the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) to construct a lube bay to service vehicles at its Amakom campus.

 The facility will serve as a practical centre for the automotive engineering students of the university.

 “The visionary leadership of the Chancellor is further propelling the university towards greater heights, fostering excellence in education and creating valuable opportunities for its students.”

"With every initiative, Dr Addo-Kufuor continues to shape KsTU into a beacon of learning, innovation and transformation, impacting Ghana and beyond,” Dr Obeng-Sarpong said.