One hundred and twenty-two (122) Midwifery and General Nursing practitioners have graduated at the maiden congregation ceremony of the Assinman Nursing and Midwifery Training College at Assin Fosu in the Central Region.

The ceremony was a dual event which also witnessed the maiden matriculation of the College for continuing and freshly enrolled students. A total of one thousand and two (1, 002) students took the matriculation oath which was administered by the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Mr. Sadique Broni.

Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of the Board of Management of the College, Ehunuabobrim Prah Agensaim VI, in his opening remarks congratulated the graduands on their achievements and charged them to be loyal ambassadors of the College.

Chairman of the Board of Management of the College, Ehunuabobrim Prah Agensaim VI

He narrated a harrowing account of an experience an old woman recounted to have suffered at the hands of some nurses at a health post in his traditional area to him. He said the poor attitude of some nurses led the woman to trek miles back to her village, in tears, without getting the needed medical assistance for her grandson. The Board Chair reminded the new nurses and midwives of their call to serve and cautioned them against disrespecting their clients. He tasked them to uphold the ethics of their chosen profession.

Ehunuabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI also acknowledged the sterling contribution of the Principal of the College, Mrs Ophelia Nkrumah Johannes, towards the growth of the College from its humble beginnings to the force it is becoming in the training of midwives and general nurses needed for Ghana’s health sector.

Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Dr. Sam Essoun Jonah

Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Dr. Sam Essoun Jonah, duly matriculated the continuing and fresh students, as well as conferred Diplomas on the graduands.

He reiterated the need for the fresh graduates to exhibit the highest level of professionalism. He also entreated the fresh and continuing students to take their studies seriously and make meaning of the investments being made in their training.

Gains of Assinman NMTC

The Principal of the College, Mrs. Ophelia Nkrumah Johannes, in her address indicated that the four years existence of the College have been characterised by huge support from the four traditional areas (Owirekyi, Atandansu, Apimanim and Afutuakwa), the various Municipal and District Assemblies in the Assin enclave, groups and individuals, particularly the Honourable Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.

Principal of the Assinman NMTC, Mrs. Ophelia Nkrumah Johannes

“The College has received a donation of 22.23 acres of land from Oyoko Odame Amankra family of Assin Adubiase to be used as a satellite campus. Currently, the School has planted maize on almost 7 acres of the land” she acknowledged.

She made special mention of Dr. Justice Agyenim-Boateng, Head of Institutional Affiliation Office, UCC and Prof. Anokye Mohammed Adam, Provost of the College of Distance Education, UCC who assisted the College to go through the process of getting affiliated to UCC.

A section of Matriculants at the ceremony

She noted that the College has built a six hundred (600) capacity pavilion used as lecture hall and is still being expanded with support from its Parents Development Association (PDA).

She added that the school had secured eighteen (18) hostels for the accommodation of its students.

“The Honourable MP for Assin South, Rev Ntim Fordjour donated beds into the hostels, and the immediate past MP for Assin North, Hon. Abena Druwaa Mensah furnished our college library with books, tables and chairs, air conditioners and shelves” she noted with appreciation.

Some traditional rulers sitting in state

Mrs. Johannes said the institution can also boast of an ICT lab with fifty (50) desktop computers from Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) under the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation. She recognized the contribution of the Central Regional Command as well as the District Division of the Ghana Police Service for ensuring the safety of students of the College.

The Principal also called for more support to enhance the physical structures of the College as well as its academic work.

Special Awards

Rev. Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education presenting one of the awards

The occasion was used to honour deserving graduands who had excelled in their studies. The overall best graduating student, Miss Esther Takyi Baffour, who made a CGPA of 3.8 received prizes worth GHS 9, 000.

Special awards were also presented to the traditional councils, MDCEs and other individuals who have, over the years, distinguished themselves in their contribution to the sustenance and growth of the College.

Overall best graduating student, Esther Baffour Takyi

The awardees included the Board Chair of the College, Ehunuabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI, MP for Assin Central, Mr. Ken Agyapong; MP for Assin South and deputy Minister of Education, Rev. Ntim Fordjour; immediate past MP for Assin North, Abena Druwaa Mensah; Oyoko Odame Amankra family of Assin Adubiase among others.

The deputy Minister of Education, Rev. Ntim Fordjour presented some boxes of street lights to enhance the illumination and security of the campus.

Mrs. Johannes receiving a citation from Ehunuabobrim Prah Agyesaim VI

The Board of the School’s management also presented a citation to the Principal.

Brief History of Assinman NMTC

The College was established on 11th October, 2019, with the support of the four Paramount areas of Assin, the three Municipal and District Assemblies of Assin Fosu, Assin North and Assin South and the three Members of Parliament as well as the Assin Community at large. This noble institution is a community initiative school hence, its name Assinman Nursing and Midwifery Training College.

The current premises are owned by Mr. Robert Kofi Ampomah who rented this facility to the Hon. Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr. Kennedy Adjapong and the Assin Fosu Municipal Assembly to be used as temporal premises to commence the School.

The College received its first batch of one hundred and thirty-four (134) students on 11th October, 2019. The number dropped to one hundred and twenty-two (122) with 87% of this number being females, and 13% being males. Out of this figure, sixty-four (64) were registered midwifery students whereas fifty-nine (59) were registered general nursing students.

The staff strength of the College, at the time, was fifteen (15). Five (5) of the number were tutors, who worked on part time basis, and ten (10) supporting staff members.

After four years of existence, the College currently has a student enrollment of one thousand and two (1002).  A breakdown of the number is as follows:

Registered General Nursing Students        -      468

Registered Midwifery Students                  -      488

Access Course Students for post nap/nac   -      46

These numbers exclude the one hundred and twenty-two (122) graduands.

The staff strength has equally grown over the period of the College’s existence. The number currently stands at eighty-three (83). Of the number, full time tutors               are 20, 22 part time tutors, 32 supporting staff members, 7 Preceptors                           and 2 Service personnel.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC