On Wednesday, April 3rd, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia initiated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new 200-bed capacity hostel at the Trinity Theological Seminary in Accra. This four-story hostel, funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), is set to be completed in just 14 months. The project is a collaborative effort between the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Office of the Vice President, and other stakeholders.
The groundbreaking event marked the realization of a commitment made by the Vice President to the institution two years prior, during its 76th congregation ceremony. Dr. Bawumia emphasized that the new hostel would offer comfortable living quarters for aspiring pastors, enabling them to pursue their studies and contribute to the moral fabric of society.
“As an institution that trains and instills Godly values, the construction of this hostel will not only provide the much-needed accommodation for students, it will also serve as a hub for more learning and growth,” he said.
Furthermore
Bawumia expressed his vision for Ghana to prioritize ethical values and integrity, aiming to combat vices like corruption, bribery, crime, dishonesty, and indiscipline. He emphasized the importance of the human element in addressing these challenges. Additionally, he highlighted his plans to foster a new era of cooperation and synergy among the government, faith-based groups, and the church. Bawumia also proposed providing incentives to support the efforts of faith-based organizations in promoting positive societal values.
“And I believe that if we give them incentives, just as we give our external development partners, we will see a lot more coming from them and we will legislate those incentives in the context of the proposed charities bill.”
The Vice-President highlighted the significant contributions of the Church and faith-based organizations, particularly in education and healthcare. He encouraged stakeholders to anticipate the completion of the hostel as a symbol of their shared vision and dedication, addressing accommodation shortages and fostering further educational opportunities.
Dr. Richard Ampofo Boadu, the Administrator of GETFund, emphasized the complexity of financing tertiary education in Ghana and stressed the need for collaborative efforts to address this challenge. He urged both public and private tertiary institutions to explore innovative financing methods to augment resources for education.
Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, representing the Director-General of GTEC, underscored the importance of expanding access to tertiary education, affirming it as a crucial aspect of the Commission’s agenda.
“We have prioritised these endeavours with the aim of achieving a gross tertiary enrollment ratio of 40 per cent by the year 2030.”
That ambitious goal, he explained, aligned not only with the national aspirations of GTEC but also the continental and international benchmark set forth in agenda 2063 of the African Union and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The esteemed Reverend Professor J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, serving as the President of Trinity Theological Seminary, expressed gratitude in his opening speech. He praised the Vice President, GTEC, and the GETFund for their proactive initiative.
According to him, this endeavor is poised to alleviate the Seminary’s housing shortage and motivate enhancements in its offerings.
He further emphasized that this facility would solidify the bond between the Seminary and the Government.
Credit: AdomOnline
