New Ho Polytechnic Regional Engineering Lab
A newly commissioned Engineering Laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering of Ho Polytechnic will soon become the regional Training Centre for Amatrol Inc in the United States as the Polytechnic had signed an MOU with the Amatrol Inc, the suppliers of equipment for the Laboratory.
This was made known by the Rector of the Polytechnic -Prof. Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi during a ceremony to commission the newly commissioned Lab at Ho Polytechnic.
‘’Unlike our colleagues, Ho Polytechnic went a step further and signed an MOU with Amatrol for our facility to serve as a regional Training Centre in Africa. The facility is not meant for the people of Ho only but for the people of Ghana and Africa. It is our expectation that both industry and technical personnel take advantage of this facility.’’- Said Prof Sakyi.
According to the Rector, the Polytechnic is already in touch with companies in the energy sector such as Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO), Volta River Authority (VRA) and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for their staff to benefit from this facility in terms of training.
Commissioning the facility, President John Dramani Mahama cautioned Polytechnics not to deviate from their core mandate of training hands-on technical expertise as they are converted into Technical Universities.
‘’We’ll continue to remind Technical University Councils, Faculties and Students that these new institutions are to have a special focus of Technical Education, producing that badly needed technical manpower with an orientation to be entrepreneurial. The Technical Universities must focus on their core competencies and maintain a high proportion of science and technology and vocational based courses.’’- Said President Mahama
The President reiterated the fact that the conversion of the Polytechnics is not just a name change but a deliberate policy to change the face of Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
‘’The transformation of our Polytechnics, therefore, is not a mere assumption of a new name. We are not just changing the name of Ho Polytechnic to Ho Technical University. It is a new culture and a character with a more purposeful and definitive direction. ’Stressed President Mahama.
The CEO of Amatrol Inc- Paul Scot Perkins expressed his hope that the usage of the training facility will contribute positively to the teaching and learning of engineering programmes in the Polytechnic.
The commissioning of the facility is timely because it happened at a time the Polytechnic is preparing for its conversion into a Technical University together with five other Polytechnics. They are Kumasi, Takoradi, Accra, Sunyani and Koforidua Polytechnics.
The Laboratory is equipped with Technical Learning Systems for training in, Electronics, Pumping Systems, Advanced manufacturing, Solar and wind technology, automation and MechatronicsQuality assurance and Meteorology electrical and electrical and Electronics and Renewable energy systems.
Kumasi and Takoradi Polytechnics have already benefited from the Amatrol installation under phase 1 of the project to retool the Polytechnics with new learning Systems. Ho, Koforidua and Tamale Polytechnics are currently benefiting under phase 2. Phase 3 will be comprise Wa, Bolga, Sunyani and Accra Polytechnics.
Written By: Hubert Mawuli Yevu-Agbi