Following the launch of the Regional Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES) in December last year, a sod-cutting ceremony to commence the construction of a two-storey ultra-modern research centre for RCEES has been held at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).
The building project worth ¢11.5 million and sponsored by the World Bank with support from the African Union, when completed would serve as the central administrative and research hub for the RCEES to help achieve its mandate of training and developing students in the energy and environmental disciplines.
Addressing the gathering at the University auditorium, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Harrison Dapaah said UENR as a young and enterprising University was privileged to be selected among forty-four (44) institutions in West Africa and among nine (9) Universities in Ghana to establish a regional research centre for energy and environmental sustainability activities in the country. He further stated that the African-Union-support-project is an evidence-based research activity that is expected to attain a set target with some indicators, of which UENR has already made some achievements in that regard. Prof. Dapaah was optimistic that the presence of RCEES would place UENR on the world map.
In his remarks, the chairman for the steering committee of the project and representative of the Ministry of Energy, Mr Wisdom Togobo commended UENR for its inordinate accomplishments. He noted that RCEES signifies a stepping stone to academic excellence in the University. Mr Togobo assured the committee’s support for the centre starting with the donation of a pick-up vehicle to facilitate monitoring and research activities at the centre.
Giving a review of the project, the Director of RCEES, Dr Eric Antwi Ofosu mentioned that since the launch of the centre, various strides have been made leading to the groundbreaking of the project. He expressed his appreciation to all stakeholders especially the Vice-Chancellor and the foundation Vice-Chancellor Prof. Esi Awuah for their utmost support in making the centre a reality. He stated that the existence of the centre would help the University attain international recognition and accreditation in terms of its academic programmes.
The project would be constructed by Antarctic Construction Limited and it is expected to be completed by 2021.
