A team of assessors from the University of Cape Coast,UCC, has inspected new facilities for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Nursing School, an affiliate of  UCC, at Abuakwa in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The new school complex, which is about 60% complete, is a donation by the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Assembly to enable the School to operate at its own site and also to facilitate expansion and the introduction of new academic and professional programmes in the health sector.

At a meeting with the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Assembly, the Member of Parliament for the Atwima Nwabiagya South Constituency  and the Management of the ENT Nursing School, the Head of Institutional Affiliation, Dr. Justice Agyenim Boateng, indicated that the School was facing challenges with space and accommodation for its students at their current location. 

He explained that the School was sharing facilities - including classrooms, laboratories, offices, among others, with the Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. " ENT School is perching the premises of NMTC Kumasi so the two institutions share classrooms, offices among others which is not conducive for an institution that is running a degree programme," he added.

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 UCC team with officials of Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipal Assembly and Management of ENT Nursing School

Dr. Boateng noted that the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) on a number of occasions had queried the School for not operating in its own building. " If we don't act very fast, GTEC will order ENT School not to admit new students from next academic year and this will have dire consequences on Ghana's health sector since it's the only specialist ear, nose and throat nursing institution in Ghana," he continued.

He further noted that UCC as a mentor of ENT Nursing School welcomed the intervention of the Assembly and was ready to provide academic and technical advice to ensure that the School begins operation in its new premises, as well as introduce additional programmes.

Welcoming the team, the MCE , Hon. Michael Awuku, noted that the visit was timely and added that the Assembly would do everything possible to complete the structure to enable the School to begin operations in the new site within the shortest possible time. 

He pointed out that the Assembly was ready to host the School to enable indigenes to also take advantage to further their education at the tertiary level, as well as create employment opportunities for them.

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 From left-right: Dr. Justice A. Boateng, Hon. Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere and Dr. A. B. Adu-Gyamfi at the project site

On his part, the Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya South Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Adjei Anhwere, was grateful to UCC for taking keen interest in the project.

Hon Anhwere said it was a collective agenda of all stakeholders, including traditional leaders to work towards hosting the School in the Municipality. 

He commended the Head of ENT School, Ms. Mercy Belins Beyuo, for cooperating with them to ensure that the project was completed on time for academic work to start at the new premises.

The team later inspected the new two-storey building which was at roofing level with facilities for 20 lecture rooms, clinical skills, laboratory, library, offices for administration and tutors etc. Also the team inspected another one-storey building currently occupied by a basic school  which would be rehabilitated and converted into one of the structures for use by ENT School to augment academic work.

The team recommended some structural adjustments on the building to meet GTEC's standard which the District Engineer promised to effect before the structures were finally handed over to the School.

Members of the UCC team were Dr. Addai Boateng Adu-Gyamfi from Department of Population and Health; Dr. Diana Atuase from Sam Jonah Library; and Surv. Philip K. A. Segbedzi from Department of Physical Development and Estate Management.