Sunyani, Bono Region – Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, Vice Chancellor of Sunyani Technical University (STU), has formally appealed to the Ghanaian government for financial clearance to recruit additional lecturers and staff to support the university’s expanding academic needs.
Speaking at the 17th congregation ceremony held in Sunyani under the theme “Employability and Job Creation: Leveraging Technical and Entrepreneurial Skills Training,” Professor Adinkrah-Appiah emphasized the urgent need for government approval through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to promptly replace lecturers and staff who have left the institution.
He highlighted that the university currently spends over GHS 250,000 monthly from its limited Internally Generated Fund (IGF) on employing part-time lecturers. Despite these efforts, the funds remain insufficient to meet the academic demands. According to the Vice Chancellor, “Our ability to recruit immediately upon staff departure is essential to sustaining academic quality and institutional efficiency.”
The university awarded certificates to a total of 1,012 graduates from various programs, including Master of Technology (MTech), Higher National Diploma, and Diploma courses for the 2023/2024 academic year.
Still, the university faces challenges maintaining the GTEC-prescribed lecturer-to-student ratio, particularly with the student enrollment approaching 10,000. While faculty numbers increased marginally from 249 in 2024 to 255 in 2025, this increment has not sufficiently eased the workload on staff.
To address these challenges, STU management has formulated a strategic plan aimed at enhancing faculty quality and capacity, which encompasses recruiting additional part-time lecturers and investing in staff development programs.
In a recent initiative, STU collaborated with Edinburgh College in the United Kingdom, supported by the British Council, to conduct entrepreneurship training for staff. This program was designed to equip lecturers with skills to mentor students in developing start-up ventures prior to graduation.
During the event, Mr. Francis Tornyevide, a distinguished alumnus and guest speaker, encouraged the graduates to focus on innovation and adaptability. He stated, “It’s not just the certificate you hold, but what you can do to change society.” He also urged graduates to reflect, retool their skills, and invest their efforts into productive and fulfilling ventures.
For further details, visit the original report by Ghana News Agency: https://www.gna.org.gh/1.24153941
