Ghanaian Varsities Reopening Postponed

Government has postponed the reopening date for the 2014/2015 academic year of all tertiary institutions in the country for two weeks.

Prof. Naana Opoku Agyeman, Minister of Education

According to a statement signed by the Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman, ‘’acting on the advice of the Inter-Ministerial Team on the Ebola viral disease, government has decided that the commencement of the 2014/2015 academic year be postponed by at least two weeks’’.

The statement further noted that the postponement is to ensure that the ‘’necessary screening and preparedness measures’’ are put in place at the various campuses to tackle any threats of Ebola.

The communiqué which was addressed to all Rectors, Vice Chancellors and principals requested that all comply with the directive.

The inter-ministerial committee was set up to institute measures to secure the country’s borders against persons who may enter country carrying the virus and also prepare for a possible outbreak.

Meanwhile, government is also set to put a freeze on international conferences and public gatherings as part of measures to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Ghana.

This was revealed by the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

According to him, the move was necessary to ensure that the disease does not spread into Ghana.

Here is the full statement by the minister:

I present to you the compliments of the Ministry of Education.

Government, acting on the advice of the Inter-Ministerial Team on Ebola Viral Disease, has decided that the commencement of the 2014/2015 academic year be postponed by at least two weeks to allow for the necessary screening and preparedness measures to be put in place to ensure that tertiary institutions in Ghana are adequately placed in readiness.

Government wishes that this directive also applies to private tertiary institutions.

All Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Presidents and Pricipals are kindly requested to comply with this communication and to respectfully attend a meeting, along with one Principal Health Officer each, of the 'Inter-Ministerial Team on Ebola Disease' under the auspices of the Chief of Staff on Monday 18th of August, 2014 at 8:00 am athe Chief of Staff Conference Room, Flagstaff House.

We count on your cooperation in this matter.

(Signed)

Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang

MINISTER

Source: www.citifmonline.com