Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II is all set to roll out a new university this October. The Okyeman University of Agriculture & Environment would be at located in Bunso in the Eastern region.
The Private Secretary to the Okyehene Edmund Boateng says the decision to set up a higher institution for the study of agriculture and the environment was taken after the chief’s visit to The Netherlands last year.
Mr. Boateng says all is set for the commencement of operations, noting that facilities and structures like lecture theatres, hostels and others are ready. The university according to him has been duly accredited.
Explaining the decision, he said it emanated from the Okyehene’s “strong advocacy and campaign for the conservation and protection of the environment and the need to improve agriculture techniques in Ghana since agriculture is the number one economic backbone of the country and also there is no specific push for the importance of our environment.”
The University will have close collaborations with another environmentally designed university, the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands which is where the Okyehene conceived the idea of his university. Also it will receive tutorial assistance from the University of Wales in the form of visiting lecturers and this is due to the Okyehene’s relationship with Prince Charles who is also the chancellor of the University of Wales.
The Okyeman University of Agriculture and Environment would be the first of its kind in Africa because there is no such university (established & its programs tailored to the promotion of agriculture).
The university according to n the notion of the Okyehene’s secretary would be an asset to the community and the whole nation and will help in producing individuals who will possess a new paradigm in the conservation of the environment and developing new methods in the enhancements of agricultural techniques.
Source: GhanaWeb
