MR. CHAIRMAN,
CHANCELLOR,
BOARD OF REGENTS,
VICE CHANCELLOR,
FACULTY,
DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

Let me start by expressing how honoured I feel to be invited this morning as the Guest Speaker for the Fourth Matriculation Ceremony of the Central University college (CUC).
As you are aware, the CUC is one of the pioneering private tertiary institutions in the country. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the staff and the Board of Regents of the university for the honour done me.

Mr. Chairman, matriculation ceremonies as you know, are solemn occasions during which freshmen and women are formally admitted and welcomed into tertiary institutions. It is for this reason that matriculation ceremonies form an important part of the calendar of tertiary education institutions. I note that today's ceremony is the fourth in the annals of the CUC. It is gratifying to note that the CUC, which started as a Bible School, has evolved over the years into a University College. I would like to congratulate you for coming this far.

Mr. Chairman, my government acknowledges the contribution of tertiary institutions to the socio-economic development of the country. Tertiary education institutions provide the top and middle level manpower needed for development. Private tertiary institutions, as you know are helping in this direction. I would, therefore, like to share with you some ideas on the way forward in our collaborative attempt at providing quality tertiary education to qualified Ghanaians.

Mr. Chairman, one of the challenges facing Ghana as a developing country is the search for appropriate strategies for harnessing our natural human resources to promote reasonable economic growth for the improvement of the living conditions of Ghanaians. Our society, as a member of the global village is also going through the effects of rapid economic and political changes that are taking place the world over. We, as a country, therefore need to raise the level of our scientific and technological base to be able to cope with the effect of these changes.

One of the ways through which we can increase our scientific and technological is through the provision of quality education to as many qualified Ghanaians as possible. It is for this reason that government is grateful for private participation in tertiary education in Ghana. There is no doubt that the advent of private tertiary institutions has increased access to tertiary education. I wish to take this opportunity to express profound gratitude to the founding fathers of CUC and indeed for other private tertiary institutions for their contribution to education in Ghana.

Mr. Chairman, even as we plan to expand our facilities to increase access to tertiary education, we should bear in mind that students need not be physically present on campuses to under take fulltime studies. There is no way the existing conventional on- campus system could satisfy the national needs and the increasing demand for tertiary education. I therefore, wish to urge you to consider the possibility of the introduction of distance education as one of the means of expanding access to tertiary education.

Mr. Chairman, human resource development and capacity building continue to be decisive factors in our efforts towards socio-economic and political development. Government and society in general will continue to look up to the tertiary institutions as the main products of our top and middle level workforce required to achieve development. This requires that we evolve programmes and courses, which will enable our students, acquire relevant knowledge skills and the right attitude for sustainable development. It is gratifying to note that the CUC does not limit itself to only religious studies but also trains students in disciplines such as accounting, marketing and human resource management. It is our hope that the university grows, science and technology based courses, which are vital for national development would also be added to your programmes.

Mr. Chairman, funding continues to be one of the challenges facing tertiary education in Ghana. It is common knowledge that the public tertiary institutions are under-funded. This, I must say is not deliberate. Rather it is the sign of the times because the stark is that government can no longer alone fund tertiary education.
Private participation in tertiary education takes a chunk of the burden of funding off the shoulder of government, and as students pay for the provision of education in private tertiary education institutions, it create the awareness for the need for cost sharing in the public tertiary education institutions.

For the first time in 2001, students in accredited private tertiary institutions including CUC have access to the students' loans under SSNIT. As you are already aware, an interim report on a new student loan scheme has been presented to me and I wish to assure you that every effort will make to ensure its smooth implementation. I am aware that NUGS has already called for its rejection at a pres conference held on Thursday January 10, 2002. I want to believe that with dialogue, it should be possible for us to reach some consensus towards a smooth implementation of the new scheme.

I wish to also note in this regard that the report presented to my ministry is not absolutely conclusive because we hope together with students and other stakeholders to iron out all potential areas of difficulties.

I wish to urge NUGS to be patient and put faith in the workability of the process with have evolved with students when differences crop up.

Mr. Chairman it is gratifying to note that the CUC is co-educational. We need to encourage and assist our women to develop their potential. The issue of gender in education is very important to the policy of my government. We shall therefore use all occasions and resources at our disposal to encourage our women to attain tertiary education.
I note, Mr. Chairman that the CUC is committed to the production of devout, well approved leaders, executives, analysts and entrepreneurs who will meet the challenges of our time and serve as positive influence on our society. I consider this to be very relevant because there is the need to inculcate discipline and moral values in our youth because they are the engine for the growth of every nation and our future leaders. I would like to urge the CUC not to relent in this duty since it is vital to the development of our nation.

On this note I would like to congratulate the fresh men and women who are being matriculated today. Know that this is the beginning of a long journey but with determination, discipline and hard work you are bound to come out with flying colours.
I wish you God's blessings and happy New Year. Thank you.