News
Focus more on STEM courses…Gifty Twum Ampofo tells Technical Universities
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/eb7cb55a-8c2d-44fb-b9b0-12edbd287e56.jpeg&description=Focus more on STEM courses…Gifty Twum Ampofo tells Technical Universities', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/eb7cb55a-8c2d-44fb-b9b0-12edbd287e56.jpeg&description=Focus more on STEM courses…Gifty Twum Ampofo tells Technical Universities', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical Vocational Education and Training, Mrs Gifty Twum-Ampofo has called on technical
universities to focus more on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) courses and less humanities in their universities.
According to her, the technical universities were set up for that purpose, and hence needed to concentrate more on STEM courses to enable the country reap the full benefit.
“The ratio of humanities to that of STEM or TVET should increase higher and higher and I believe that would be a vehicle to which Ghana can reach a point beyond aid,” she stated.
Mrs Twum-Ampofo, who represented the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, made these statements during the 19th Congregation of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) in Koforidua.
2, 241 students who have passed for awards of Degrees and Diplomas qualification in 2022 academic year graduated during the ceremony themed “The Role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Products in Value Addition to Ghana’s Economic Growth and Development.”
Mrs Twum-Ampofo indicated that for the country to go beyond aid, there was the need to equip students with skills in STEM and TVET to enable them engage in industrialization that would turn around the fortunes of the country in recent times where technology has far advanced.
By that, she indicated that the country would achieve economic growth and development to make Ghana robust beyond aid.
She reiterated that technical universities ensure that students were trained in more of STEM/TVET courses and less in humanities to achieve the country’s objectives on STEM education.
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the KTU, Professor David Kofi Essumang stated the need for Science and Mathematics education to be strengthened at the Senior High Level of education.
According to him, greater efforts to give priority to STEM education in the Senior High Schools level would help to feed the technical universities with the necessary human resources to appropriately carry out their mandate.
“Technical Universities in Ghana are mandated by the Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922) to equip students with technical skills required for industry and with this mandate, technical universities are expected to focus on engineering, science, vocational and technical-oriented programmes with little or no concentration on Business and Humanities,” he explained.
He said for the country to attain economic growth and development, there was the need to ensure that the mandate of the technical universities was achieved to enable the country have the needed manpower to fuel the expected economic growth.
Speaking on the challenges of the University, he revealed that it faced infrastructural challenges, adding that lecture halls, students and residential accommodation for staff were inadequate.
“There is only one hostel on our campus and this is woefully inadequate. The 448-bed GET Fund student hostel is inadequate for the teeming students,” he said.
He stated that it has become a major challenge facing the university and called on government and philanthropists to come to their aid.
Congratulating the grandaunts, he encouraged them to uphold the core values of innovation, integrity and impact imbibed in them to enable them to be successful in life
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested former professional boxer Michael Ayitey Okai, popularly known as “Ayitey Powers,” over an alleged threat of death against the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo.
According to the Police, the 46-year-old former boxer was arrested on Monday, August 24, 2026, in connection with the alleged threat.
The Police said the arrest followed a video circulating on social media in which Ayitey Powers is alleged to have issued the threat against Mr Ampofo.
He is currently in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.
The Accra Regional Police Command said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged threat and determine the appropriate action to be taken in accordance with the law.
The Command has urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information about the matter while the investigation continues.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin has sued the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, and Multimedia Group Limited over alleged defamatory comments made against him on the Newsfile programme.
In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, Mr Afenyo Markin is seeking GH¢15 million in damages, an apology and retraction of the statements, among other reliefs.
The suit follows comments allegedly made by Mr Gyamfi during the Saturday, August 22, 2026 edition of Newsfile, hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Gyamfi described Mr Afenyo Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to a question about GoldBod’s reported profits and its position on losses arising from its operations.
The plaintiff claims that Mr Gyamfi repeated the allegation when the host sought clarification on whether he stood by the description.
Mr Afenyo Markin further claims that Mr Gyamfi challenged him to sue him and insisted that the allegation was true.
The plaintiff argues that the statements created the impression that he engages in extortion, uses his political influence to put improper pressure on public institutions and officials, and conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with the standards expected of a lawyer and public office holder.
He denies the allegations and maintains that he is not an extortionist and has never engaged in the conduct alleged by Mr Gyamfi.
The Minority Leader also argues that the comments were made maliciously and were presented as facts without evidence being disclosed.
He claims the statements have damaged his reputation, professional standing and public image, particularly because of his position as a senior political figure and legal practitioner.
The suit also names Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant because, according to the plaintiff, the alleged defamatory comments were broadcast through JoyNews and subsequently circulated on social media platforms, including X, Facebook and YouTube.
Mr Afenyo Markin claims Multimedia failed to stop the comments or deactivate Mr Gyamfi’s microphone after the allegations were made.
He is therefore asking the court to award him general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as GH¢15 million in compensation and legal costs.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to issue a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction and public apology.
The plaintiff wants the apology and retraction to be given similar prominence and reach as the original publication, including through JoyNews and the social media platforms where the comments were disseminated.
He is further seeking a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from repeating the alleged defamatory statements or words with a similar meaning.
The writ requires the defendants to enter an appearance within eight days after being served.
It warns that failure to do so could result in judgment being entered in their absence.
The case was filed by lawyer Paa Kwesi Abaidoo of Dehyena Chambers on behalf of Mr Afenyo Markin.
By: Jacob Aggrey
