The Ho Nurses Training College (NTC) is mounting pressure on the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) to release facilities originally constructed for the College.
According to management, the college is in urgent need of the said facilities, which were temporarily handed over to UHAS, as it lacks infrastructure, which is taking a toll on academic activities.
“Since 2012, some properties belonging to the Nurses Training College were given to the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) temporarily as incubatory facilities by the then President, HE. Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.”
“It was agreed that the handed back to NTC Ho once UHAS moved to its permanent facility. However, this has not happened”, said James Awudi, a convener for the group.
Following the resolution to establish the University of Health and Allied Sciences in 2012, the government decided to make available some infrastructure, originally constructed for the Ho Nurses Training College and School of Hygiene, as incubator facilities.
The facilities included lecture halls, three-bedroom self-contained bungalows, staff offices, and a library. Some were at various stages of construction and were completed by UHAS after the takeover.
Some of these facilities were converted into accommodation for staff and students, with the rest being used for lecture halls and administrative purposes.
These facilities contributed significantly to the smooth take-off of the University, which has rapidly developed and become one of the most desired health training institutions in the West African Sub-Region.
Although three campuses, including the China Phase 1 and 2 projects and hostel facilities, among others, have been completed for UHAS use, it still occupies incubator facilities belonging to its sister institutions.
The Management of the Ho Nurses Training College organised a peaceful demonstration and marched to the premises of the facilities occupied by UHAS, to protest the “supposed takeover.”
They wielded placards with inscriptions such as “UHAS, vacate our premises”, “Stop the facility takeover”, “Our facilities matter”, “We need our flats”, “Justice for Ho NTC”, “UHAS, enough is enough”, and “Our students need space”, among others.
Mr Awudi emphasised the stringent need for the facilities after over 14 years, as the College struggles with an infrastructure deficit.
He explained that the development has left staff and students struggling with accommodation and “limited teaching infrastructure”, while years of using a diplomatic and peaceful approach to have the facilities returned proved futile.
“Our demonstration today is therefore not an act of hostility but a call for justice, fairness, and
respect for institutional property and rights.
“We believe in dialogue and lawful processes, but after many years of patience and engagement without results, we are compelled to bring this
issue to the attention of the public”, he said
Mr Awudi entreated all stakeholders to consider the plight of the College and to impress upon UHAS to hand over the facilities for the smooth academic and training of their students.
“We respectfully call on the Government of Ghana, the Volta Regional Minister, the Ministry
of Health, the Ministry of Education, and all relevant authorities to intervene urgently to
ensure that the rightful properties of the Nurses Training College, Ho, are returned to the
institution as early as possible”, he called out.
He added that the College’s management remains committed to peaceful dialogue on the subject and warned of the consequences of not heeding their call.
“However, let us not forget this popular phrase, which states that “when persuasion fails, force
must be applied”. We do not want anyone to blame us for any occurrences if this peaceful
request is not met.”
“We remain committed to dialogue, and we hope that through this demonstration and
engagement with the media, the necessary attention will be given to this issue,” Mr Awudi concluded.
A petition was presented to the management of UHAS, and they promised to address the issues appropriately.
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