The Government and People’s Republic of China have commenced processes to implement the construction of the Phase II project of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho. This was made known at a short signing ceremony in Accra on Friday, January 11, 2019 at the Ministry of Finance, where an Exchange Note was signed by H.E. Mr. Shi Ting Wang, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana on behalf of the People’s Republic of China and Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance on behalf of the Republic of Ghana.
The Phase II construction project which will cost approximately $60 million will have a total floor area of 29,200 square meters. It will comprise a fully furnished Central Administration Block, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Duty and Equipment Rooms.
The Chinese Ambassador was optimistic that, after the completion of the project the University will become one of the most beautiful and modern universities in the country and Africa. He commended the University management for professionally maintaining the buildings constructed in the first phase.
The Minister of Finance Mr Ken Ofori-Atta lauded the Chinese Government for the grant and recognised the partnership of China as an ally in supporting the Government of Ghana to promote sustainable growth and reduce poverty. He said Ghana was vigorously pursuing the vision of growing beyond aid on four major pillars of revenue and domestic resource mobilization, expenditure management, finance and treasury management, creating opportunities which will all require further resources.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Health ad Allied Sciences, Professor John Gyapong thanked the Government and people of China for the gift and hoped that the construction of the facility will be expedited in anticipation of the increase in demand for tertiary education in the year 2020 as a result of Government’s free SHS policy. He was hopeful that GHS6 million GOG Counterpart Funding will be released timeously to ensure an unhindered implementation.
Present at the ceremony were Mr. Edward Boateng, Ghana’s Ambassador to China, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, Deputy Minister for Education, Ms. Yvonne Quansah, Director of External Resource Mobilization-Bilateral, Ministry of Finance and some officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Chinese Embassy.