University of Mines and Technology installs new Vice Chancellor
The Council of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa, has installed Professor Jerry Samuel Kuma as the new vice chancellor of the university.
The former Pro Vice Chancellor, who had served in several positions at the University for twenty seven years, is succeeding the immediate past vice chancellor professor Daniel Mireku Gyimah, whose eight year term of office ended on October 15, 2012.
The ceremony to install Professor Kuma was attended by the Omanhene of the Wassa Fiase Traditional area, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamena Enimil VI, members of the University council, the Municipal Chief Executive Officer of Tarkwa Nsueam, Mrs. Christina Kobinah, vice chancellors of sister Universities, members of the mining fraternity, stakeholders, management and students of the University.
The Chairman of the University Council, Professor Bruce Banoeng-Yakubo said in accordance with the UMaT, Tarkwa Act 2004, Act 677 and the provisions of the statutes, council, at its 39th meeting in September this year approved the recommendations of a search committee and appointed Mr. Kuma as the second Vice Chancellor with effect from October 16.
He therefore appealed to the principal officers, deans, heads of department and all others to offer the new chancellor the needed support.
He said in November 2004, the University was established by an Act of Parliament Act (677) and that since then the authorities of the University have endeavored to put the administrative, academic and financial structures of the institution into workable system and to nurse a culture that supports the vision of the University to become a center of excellence for the training of professionals in mining and other related engineering programme.
Mr. Banoeng-Yakubo said having spearheaded the transformation of the then Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology school of mines to become the Western University College and thence to the UMaT, Mr. Gyimah, became the foundation vice chancellor in 2004 steered the affairs of the University.
The chairman said through the able leadership of Mr. Gyimah infrastructure has improved enormously and the number of programmes offered in the University has increased with corresponding increase in the number of academic, administrative and professional staff.
He said the former vice chancellor has earned lots of awards because of his hard work and will receive another award in November,an honorary doctorate degree by the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria for the contributions he has made to the mining industry and University education in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The immediate past vice chancellor, Mr. Daniel Mireku Gyimah expressed gratitude to members of the council and management of the University for their supportive leadership and commitment.
According to him, the University started with dilapidated lecture rooms and had no library, auditorium and hostel, but can now boast of a modern auditorium, well equipped laboratory, vice chancellors lodge and offices for all senior members.
Mr. Gyimah said the institution’s teaching staff has improved tremendously to 4 professors, 6 associate professors, 43 lectures, and 89 senior staffs.
The past vice chancellor thanked the government, mining companies and other stakeholders for their financial support as well as the traditional ruler of Wassa Fiase for donating a 26 kilometres of land to the University.
He entreated management of the University to give out their best to the new vice chancellor to ensure that he maintains the strong foundation they have built for the University.
Mr. Gyimah presented an emblem of the University to the authorities of the institution.
The new Vice Chancellor, Mr. Kuma in a brief address explained that he will increase infrastructural development, teacher to student radio and seek for more financial assistance to help execute extra developmental projects to meet the present population of 1,856 students.
Mr. Kuma also promised to put in measures that would enable the University to meet its target of 5,000 students with 40 percent of the total number been females.
The authorities of the University as a sign of gratitude unveiled a bust of the immediate past vice chancellor at the fore court of the University’s auditorium.
Source: GNA