KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION'S 7TH BIENNIAL CONGRESS

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni Association (Teknokrats) has held its 7th Biennial Congress at the New Capital View Hotel at Koforidua in the Eastern Region. The event brought together alumni both at home and abroad, as well as some members of the University Council and Management.   The Congress was on the theme “Reducing Graduate Unemployment: the Role of Teknokrats.” The event was held under the distinguished chairmanship of His Royal Highness, Daasebre Prof. Emeritus Oti Boateng. Happy birthday to a true Teknokrat   Daasebre Prof. Oti Boateng, in his welcome address, stated that the theme for the Congress was appropriate and timely. This was because gone are the days when students had secure jobs even before graduating from school.   He said there were currently no jobs and the situation had been worsened with the proliferation of private tertiary institutions in the country.   Daasebre Prof. Oti Boateng noted that unemployment had been the bane of society for many decades. He continued that academic institutions could not stop producing graduates due to this problem. In the same way society also could not afford to continue to turn out graduates without giving them jobs. Society needs the expertise of its human resource to propel its growth. To minimise or reduce the problem of unemployment therefore called for the concerted efforts of all Teknocrats and society.   Honourable Teknokrat Ebenezer Oklatey Tei-Larbi, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, called on graduates to embrace new technologies and entrepreneurship to reduce unemployment. He also advocated for the partnership of industry and academia to help nurture young entrepreneurs.   Teknokrat Dr. Kofi Amoah, Chief Executive Officer of Citizen Kofi, said that graduates should be produced with the right perspective to contribute to national development. He called on Ghanaians to use local resources to create employment and wealth for themselves.   Dr. Kofi Amoah said there would be no employment if we did not manufacture the things we needed adding that we could not be employed when we were exporting our jobs by using foreign products. He also called for the creation of modern shops to replace the existing traditional markets and the setting up of distribution, marketing, exporting and promotion institutions for local products.   Teknokrat Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo, Chief Executive Officer of KAMA, in his presentation called for a change in the mindset of people as a key to combating graduate unemployment. He said Ghana’s first president Osagyefo   Dr. Kwame Nkrumah saw that industrialisation was the key to development and that explained why he set up many industries. Successive governments, however, failed to follow this example which also accounted for the high rate of unemployment in Ghana.   Dr. Agyekum revealed that with the ever-increasing number of unemployed graduates worldwide, the “entrepreneurial revolution” will soon catch up with us. Under this revolution the only option would be self-employment. Dr Agyekum said the time was coming when there would be no jobs for people and entrepreneurship will be the norm. He therefore called on graduates to identify opportunities around them and to make use of such opportunities, develop them and to utilise them to their benefit.   Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor addressed Teknokrats on the state of the University. Teknokrat Tony Danklu, President of the Alumni Association also briefed Teknokrats on the current state of the Alumni Association. There were also chapter reports by the Chapter Coordinators and Representatives.   Teknokrat Eunice Akosua Ofosua Amoako, National General Secretary also gave the roll call and Annual Report, while Teknokrat Fanny Enos presented the Annual Financial Report. OTHER ACTIVITIES 1.    The Congress was preceded by career seminars at Koforidua Secondary Technical School, Ghana Senior High School and Pope John Senior High School for Final year students. 2.    Delegates were also welcomed with an Akwaaba Cocktail and Get Together. 3.    The Vice-Chancelor, Prof. Otoo Ellis, as part of his Community Impact Programme, and in partnership with some donors, made presenatation of computers, books and several items to some needy schools in the Koforidua Township.   Other activities which took place after the main congress were a trip to the Boti Falls, Picnic and Dinner Dance, as well as a Thanksgiving Service at the International Central Gospel Church. MAJOR DECISIONS: It was unanimously agreed that the present National Executives would continue to serve for a one-year term after which elections would be conducted to elect new officers. Congress also proposed a review of the Constitution of the Association after 12years since it was adopted.