Increase Student Loans..

Nana Dwomoh Sarpong, Executive Chairman of Radford University College, has advocated an increase in loans allocated to students in private tertiary institutions. According to him, the current amount of loans offered by the national Student Loan Trust Fund, to private tertiary students �is woefully inadequate.� Students in private institutions are currently offered loans between GH�600 and GH�1,400, which Nana Sarpong says is inadequate in catering for the educational needs of students. Addressing the sixth matriculation ceremony of Radford University College in Accra yesterday, Nana Sarpong advocated an urgent 100 per cent increment in the loan allocation. �The present rate is inadequate to assist the students to buy books, computers and even pay their fees,� he said. He said although the country was facing financial difficulties, �I believe the government can do something to improve the loan allocations.� Nana Sarpong also called on Ghanaians to exhibit a high level of patriotism in helping to improve education across the country. He particularly urged the older generation to give back to society by supporting the development of school facilities for the benefit of the younger generation. �For instance, when one moves around the country, we see school buildings in which most of us were educated in very deplorable conditions, and yet we all sit and expect the government to do everything. �In times past, schools were built by churches, chiefs, and communities with communal labour, and we can revive that communal spirit to improve the state of education in present times,� he said. Welcoming the 308 newly admitted students, Nana Sarpong said the university was happy that it was living up to its mandate of training future entrepreneurs towards addressing the unemployment situation in Ghana and Africa in general. �From humble beginnings some six years ago, we are grateful to God that Radford is making good progress,� he said, adding that the university was the first university college to run an accredited degree programme in fashion design in Ghana. Dr. Paul Effah, President of the College, for his part, promised that the university would continue to work to complement government�s efforts in providing accessible and quality education for job creation to support the national economic growth. �Radford combines scholarship with entrepreneurship to equip students for the with the requisite knowledge and skills for the world of work,� he said. He congratulated the fresh students on their successful admission and urged them to effectively utilise the opportunity to develop their talents.