Authorities of the Wa Polytechnic in the Upper West region have appealed to government to establish a mitigation fund for the institution to make it more competitive.  

The Polytechnic’s Governing Council was dissolved by the Ministry of Education earlier this year after a prolonged legal battle over the Council's decision to extend the term of office of the Rector, Dr. Baba Issah.

The crisis adversely affected teaching and learning at the polytechnic, which held its 5th congregation this weekend.

Speaking at the ceremony a member of the Polytechnic’s Interim Management Committee, Chris Ackumey explained the fund if created will go into rigorous staff development.

It will also see to the completion of ongoing projects in the school, and “help to resource the programmes with the needed books, equipment and also improve the drive of students,” he said.

Joy News' Rafiq Salam reported Mr Ackumey as saying that although the crisis has ended, a lot more needs to be done to bring the polytechnic back on its feet.

Mr Ackumey said not only has the protracted crisis affected the image of the polytechnic negatively, but also its growth and development have been affected.

“During this period all developmental projects and accreditation processes for academic programmes both old and new were stalled leaving the polytechnic two years behind its closest counterparts.

“In the light of this therefore, I wish to call on all and sundry to put their hands on the wheel and help the polytechnic to come alive once more and fulfill its mandate,” he added.

Another major challenge at the polytechnic is the lack of staff. It has been unable to recruit staff to replace those who have either retired or died.

Mr Ackummey decried being left out in the list of institutions cleared to recruit staff in the recently announced financial clearance released by government.

About 689 graduates were conferred with higher national diploma after waiting for almost two years after completing school.

source:myjoyonline