Ghana Telecom University College: The University and the Faith-Based Institutions Work Together

Although church-related colleges have a long history, universities and faith-based institutions are not always natural allies. When they do come together as partners in the service of the poor, in education and in development, both institutions may find that they are strengthened.

Churches and mosques see and hear the needs of their congregations and communities:  illness that can be avoided if practices are changed; water that can be made drinkable if it is treated; crops whose output can be increased if seeds are distributed differently; tools that are available to light up homes, technologies for transport or multiplying human energy.

The university has scholars and teachers who may have answers; students who might make the needs of the poor part of their curriculum; libraries that can be searched; and, with the help of the new communication technologies, access to scholars and teachers and libraries and international agencies around the world that might help.
 

With the help of faith-based networks and the new information and communication technologies the universities can move their information and knowledge rapidly to the people who need it.

The organizing center of PaN Ghana and FIDE Ghana is at Ghana Telecom University College in the capital city of Accra. Dr. Osei Darkwa (right), Principal of  GTUC, is a long time collaborator and colleague of the founder of  PaN and FIDE International: they have worked together on many educational and economic development projects.

GTUC, a new university of engineering and technology, is housed on a modern campus on the site of Ghana Telecom, Ghana’s largest telecommunication company. GT has more than 4000 employees, offices in all of Ghana’s 10 regions, and provides the university with a corps of experienced faculty and the latest telecommunications equipment. Dr. Darkwa’s plans include the development of the Open University of Ghana: a distance learning university will  use the new communication technologies to mobilize all of the universities of Ghana and cooperating universities around the world to bring learning to all the small places of Ghana and West Africa.

GTUC provides the secretariat and meeting location for FIDE Ghana’s Planning Committee, now made up of clergy and lay leaders some 70 churches and mosques. FIDE, working with the faculty and staff of GTUC, organized and sponsored a national conference that brought together some 200 church and mosque leaders from Ghana and surrounding West African nations.

Matriculation Ceremonies at GTUC, November 2006

Inauguration of GTUC, Summer 2006
(center) John Aggey Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana; (l) Benjamin Ntim, Deputy Minister of Communications; (r) Dr.Osei Darkwa, President, GTUC.

(above) The committee organizing FIDE's Interfaith Conference on Information and Communications Fechnology met at GTUC.

(below) Students at work in a small classroom; (bottom) A large lecture hall at GTUC