The Vice-Chancellor of Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Prof. Frederick K. Sarfo, has extended a rallying call to members of the AAMUSTED Alumni Association to support efforts towards the progress and the building of a good image for the University.

The Vice-Chancellor conceded that the University, being new, would need support from every available source to implement its core mandates smoothly. He, therefore, charged the Alumni to play a lead role in that regard, as he addressed the Association’s Maiden General Meeting on September 9, 2021.

The meeting was, among others, to have a final review of the Association’s Constitution for adoption and make preparations toward the successful organisation of the Association’s maiden congress.

He said it would be unfortunate if any member of the Association, for any reason, would want to dabble in acts that seek to run down the image of the University. Any such attempt, he observed, would also go to water down the value of the certificates the University has awarded that individual.

“Whether you like it or not, this is your alma mater. This University will follow you everywhere until you decide not to use its certificates again. Therefore, let us hold it in high esteem, respect it so others would also have value for it,” he admonished them.

For instance, he said it should become every alumni’s devoted duty to learn the University’s core mandate and know its academic programmes so they could advise younger ones to take advantage of the technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial courses available in the University. He stressed, “We have to let the nation understand and embrace Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for our common good.”

Prof. Sarfo expressed happiness that the interim executives of the Association have worked hard at rallying the members together. He was full of praise to all alumni working tirelessly to help improve conditions at AAMUSTED and hoped that others might follow in their footsteps.

He assured the members that the AAMUSTED Management would give the Association a space for an office and also help with its furnishing.

The Association Interim President, Mr. Abraham Attoh, said for the period that they had been in office, the interim executives had been working to register members via the AAMUSTED website, on social media, and at congregations, creating the Association Database, opening the alumni accounts, and meeting the University Management on alumni issues.

He said the interim executives would soon be seeking members’ approval to venture into various projects including, an alumni hostel, car washing bay, and commercial water production for the University Community and the public.

Mr. Attoh announced that the Association’s Representative on the University Governing Council, Dr. Kwame Ansong-Gyimah, had already provided seed money of GHC2,000.00 towards the projects. He was hopeful that others would emulate his example.

He appealed to all alumni to participate fully in the activities of the Association so that it would become relevant and help to propel AAMUSTED to greater heights.

For his part, Dr. Ansong-Gyimah was grateful to the Association for the opportunity to represent it on the University Governing Council. He assured members of his readiness to work hard to justify the confidence they had reposed in him as their representative on the Council.

He also appealed to the members to support efforts towards the effective constitution of the Alumni Association into a formidable force to help the University grow.

The meeting constituted two committees – one to fine-tune the draft constitution and the other to plan the first AAMUSTED Alumni Congress.