News
Prof. Richard Kwasi Amankwa takes office as third UMAT Vice-Chancellor
Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwa, was last Friday, sworn into office as the third Vice Chancellor of University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa in the Western Region (UMaT), with a pledge to improve sustainable artisanal small- scale mining and emergency response.
“UMat will not only teach, but, also practise what it taught and requested the Minister of Land and Natural Resources to provide a mineralised land for the university to start the UMaT small scale mine.”
Before his investiture the, Chairman of the Council, Dr Steve S. Yirenkyi,led the new VC to swear the oath of office and robedhim with the VC’s robe.
Prof. Amankwa , 54, who was the Dean, Faculty of Integrated Management Science (FIMS), became a full professor in 2011.
He is a distinguished, internationally acclaimed scholar, a business-oriented academic, and had provided dedicated services for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and UMaT.
He said: “This venture will grow to become a model mine and a centre for training artisanal and small scale miners in the -sub region with the best practices in resource optimisation and environmental sustainability.In addition to the potential financial rewards of such a venture,we will create more revenue for industrial training for our students and create employment for our gradates.”
“We can achieve these ideals and move towards becoming a centre of excellence and hence the MIT of Africa that the Chancellor charged us to do,if only we can build appropriate partnerships.”
Prof. Amankwaa indicated that his vision was to deepen scholarship, innovation and entrepreneurship in UMaT to drive sustainable industrial development in Ghana and beyond and believed that “this will not be the VCs vision, but, our vision for the next four years, so that together we can pursue the agenda with enthusiasm.”
He said, the vision, carved out of UMaT strategic plan, would be achieved through impact-oriented teaching, research and extension services, improved infrastructure, information communication and technology, enriched governance system and leadership, intensified financial resources mobilisation and management and enhanced student experience and development.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, noted that UMaT had become an engine of growth and development producing industry oriented graduates in engineering.
He said research findings put Ghana, a nation endowed with rich minerals, in a strategic position as a global leader in mining, petroleum and allied industries.
He said: “UMaT would continue to build the mindset of students to be more entrepreneurial and create the environment where they would be able to practice what they learn.
This concept is aimed at equipping graduates of the University with the capacity to set up their businesses to be employers rather than employees.”
The President urged UMaT to team up with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, other ministries and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop skills and technologies to transform small scale mining in Ghana and help sanitise galamsey, which was connected to illegal and irresponsible mining.
The Chairman of UMaT Council, Dr Steve Yirenkyi, urged all stakeholders to join Prof .Amankwa to build UMAT so that, it could fulfill its mandate of training worldclass professionals in the field of mining petroleum, technology and related disciplines for the development of Ghana.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Tarkwa
The ECOWAS Council of Ministers has unanimously endorsed President John Dramani Mahama as West Africa’s sole candidate for the Chairperson of the African Union when the rotating position gets to the region in 2027.
The endorsement was announced at the ninety-fifth ordinary session of the Council in Abuja on 12 December 2025.
The Authority of Heads of State and Government is expected to adopt the recommendation on Sunday.
In a declaration issued after the meeting, the Council noted that Ghana remains an important member of the regional bloc and continues to contribute to ECOWAS’ international standing.
It stressed the need for member states to work together to secure top positions for West Africans in continental and global organisations.
The Council explained that adopting a unified stance would help ECOWAS protect and promote its interests within the African Union.
It therefore recommended that the Heads of State fully back Ghana’s bid for the AU chairmanship.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Education Service has released all outstanding feeding grants for Special Schools across the country.
The funds cover the third term of the 2024/2025 academic year and the first term of the 2025/2026 academic year.
GES has also cleared all arrears owed Senior High Schools and Senior High Technical Schools for perishables supplied between 29 July and 17 October 2025.
According to the Service, the money has been transferred into the accounts of all beneficiary schools.
Heads of Special Schools, SHS and SHTS have been asked to submit official receipts for the funds through their Regional Accountants to the Director General.
The Public Relations Unit in a statement noted that GES remains committed to supporting effective teaching, learning and inclusive education in the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
