Otumfuo offers 2 factories to train university students

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has decided to offer his two industrial establishments – Multi fruit processing factory and Jute Processing factory – both at Sabin Akrofrom in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region for practical training for students of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) in Kumasi, free of charge.

Otumfuo announced this at the investiture of the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo in Kumasi on Saturday, May 26, 2023.

AAMUSTED was established on August 27, 2020, under Act 1026 of 2020 of Parliament. The university was formed from the College of Technology Education, Kumasi (COLTEK) and the College of Agriculture Education (CAGRIC), Asante-Mampong, which were campuses of the University of Education, Winneba.

Vision
Otumfuo expressed delight that his vision to have the Kumasi campus upgraded to a fully-fledged university had become a reality after nearly 15 years.

He said during the congregation of the then Kumasi campus of UEW on December 10, 2005, he proposed to the government to consider upgrading the campus to an autonomous university to train technology, technical and vocational education teachers to teach in schools and colleges.

“I am convinced today as I was years ago that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is crucial for the development of the nation. It encourages creativity and job creation, “ His Majesty stated.

Local expertise
As an advocate of the use of local expertise in delivering projects and programmes in the country, Otumfuo Osei Tutu disclosed that he was compelled to stop some Bangladeshis from working on his jute factory project. He said he realised that some Bangladeshis had to be flown in to instal all the machines, but he was not happy.

The King said when he asked if there were no Ghanaians locally to do the job, he was told the Bangladeshis were brought in because the machines came from outside Ghana and therefore the need for foreign expertise to instal them.

“So I said we cannot bring 12 or 15 people from Bangladesh to instal a machine when I can get people here to do it. So I said all of them should go and we get Ghanaians to do it.”

President commended
The Asantehene commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government for taking the bold step for the establishment of AAMUSTED with the mandate to train TVET and entrepreneurial teachers for the country.

“I also thank the President and his government for naming the university after Akenten Appiah-Menka, one of the foremost industrial giants who established his factory in Kumasi to create employment and boost the local economy.”

He expressed the hope that the government will demonstrate commitment to resource the university considering the important role it plays well in the development of the country.

Colonial education
Further emphasizing the role of technical education as a game changer, the King said, “We have allowed colonial education with an emphasis on English language to draw us back. “

“The chew, pour and pass thing in our education system is not forward-looking. That is why I’m all for this university and I’ll support it to grow.”

Otumfuo said last week, he received a team from Suame Magazine who had come to pay homage to him at the Manhyia Palace

“While I was talking to them, I said this is what we need in Ghana. People who use their initiative to design and draw and yet we say that they cannot be engineers.”

He congratulated Prof. Sarfo on his new position and urged him to steer the institution to greater heights.
“I’m confident that AMUSTED will succeed.,” he added.