The Vice Chancellor of Takoradi Technical University, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, has assured that government will commence the payment of the online teaching allowance to lecturers from ending of August 2022. Government should have started paying its portion of about 51% out of the total online allowance to lecturers in January 2022 but has deferred the commencement to August 2022, he said. Rev. Prof. Eshun who was addressing the staff of TTU during an of end-semester Staff Durbar at the University Auditorium however said the university will rather pay its portion of about 49% in subsequent months.

“I have received a letter from GTEC authorizing management to extend the implementation of the online teaching allowances for the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana, TUTAG, to January 2022. Since it came midway of 2022, we have factored what we are supposed to pay into 2023. Government will start paying by August ending but we will start paying ours in January 2023“, he added.

While commending staff and the university community for their immense support to the management in running the university, the Vice Chancellor also announced that management is taking steps to improve welfare of staff.

“Let me reassure you that your welfare still remains on top of my preference list. This is because I believe that we spent most of our productive periods here rendering a service to the University. I know we have not reached there yet, however; many measures have been put in place to ensure that we get to our desired zone. We have put in place new executives to steer the affairs of the welfare Committee and I had asked them to remain committed to the job they have accepted to do…You may recall that when the University established the new Welfare Board, the old welfare Board was dissolved. It was then agreed that they audit their accounts and report back to their members. I must say the audited accounts had been given to Management and it had been agreed that the funds left in their treasury will be paid back to the members who contributed“, he assured.

He further entreated lecturers who haven’t renewed their contracts to do so before August 16th, 2022 to avert non-renewal of contract.

“You will bear with me that the appointments of the teaching staff are on a contract basis subject to renewal. Most of the contracts of the teaching staff have expired and require a renewal unless you do not want to work with the University again, then you may not need to apply for a renewal of the contract. I will, therefore, entreat those whose contract renewal is due to follow the process and renew their contracts. Without that, it will mean that you are deemed to have severed a relationship with the University“, he cautioned.

He also announced that four new vehicles would soon be added to the fleet of vehicles of the university to provide staff convenience in mobility. On the issue of programmes, the Vice Chancellor announced new programmes the University would rollout in the coming academic year.

“I am glad to inform you that within this academic year, we have been given accreditation to mount Bachelor of Technology in Building Construction, Master of Technology in Construction Management, Master of Technology in Power Production Systems, Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Technology in Petroleum Engineering, Master of Technology in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Master of Technology in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Enterprise Development…I would like you to know that beginning next academic year, all BTech. Top-up programmes will be run within a year. This will require serious restructuring of the courses in order not to affect the programme…I encourage those who are yet to design a curriculum for the MTech. programmes to double their efforts and those given approval to speed up the work on their syllabus and course outlines for the programmes since these programmes ought to be mounted in the 2022/2023 Academic Year“, he said.

To encourage innovation among students and showcase what the university is doing that must be supported to impact society, Rev. Prof. Eshun hinted the maiden TTU Technology and Innovation Fair to be launched in October.

“Without technology and innovation, industrialization will not happen, and without industrialization, there would not be development. As part of measures to bridge the gap between industry and academic environment, plans are far advance to organize the technology and innovation fair to come off in October, 2022. The event will showcase innovations by both staff and students and also provide an avenue for industries to enter into collaborations with the University to commercialize some of the innovations“, he mentioned.

On the academic calendar, Prof. Eshun noted that the congregation for the 2021/2022 academic year would come off as planned in December but however noted that the university is adopting the double cohort system for next admission.

“I wish to inform you that we are adopting the double cohort system for the 2022/2023 Academic Year and I would like you all to embrace it and give your maximum support to this novelty. The decision to go on a double cohort system is for our survival as an institution…I know being the first time we institute this system, we shall encounter some challenges but I trust that with your cooperation those unforeseen contingencies will be surmountable”, he said.

Expressing his dismay with the alarming destruction of furniture by students, Prof. Eshun said management is going to bill students who are found responsible for the destruction of the furniture. He therefore challenged staff to help by looking out for such students who engages in such misconduct to face the consequences of their misconduct. The Vice Chancellor also indicated that TTU is working towards manufacturing its own furniture soon.

Registrar of TTU, Dr. Moses Maclean Abnory stating the relevance of the Staff Durbar said the staff interaction with management is in accordance with best practices that promotes transparency, accountability, participation, inclusiveness among others.

The staff durbar ended with a question and answer section which enabled staff to raise issues of concern for redress and also contributed to management’s proposals towards effective implementation of academic and welfare programmes.