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Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Coast, has said Ghana should put urgency into the search for alternative arrangements to expand higher education as public resources dwindle. "It is important for all of us to ensure that all qualified students have access to higher education regardless of their socio-economic situation or any other classification." This, she said, is reinforced by the realities of globalization and the critical importance of knowledge. Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang was addressing the third joint matriculation and graduation ceremony of the Ghana Baptist University College (GBUC) at Amakom in Kumasi. "Education as a Tool for National Development: The Role of Private Tertiary Institutions", was the theme. She raised concern about the yawning enrolment gap in tertiary education between African countries and the developed world and said this must be tackled. Thirty Eight (38) graduates, seven of whom, had first class honour, received degrees and diploma certificates at the end of three-year study programmes in accounting, banking and finance, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Theology. At the same occasion, 248 new students were admitted to pursue various courses. Professor Nana Opoku-Agyemang praised private participation in the provision of university education, which was helping to ease pressure on the state. She, however, advised against their over-reliance on part-time lecturers. For them to positively contribute their quota to national development, she said, they need to sacrifice and employ adequate members of fulltime staff and depend less on part-time staff. Mr. Kofi Opoku-Manu, the Ashanti Regional Minister, urged private universities to link up with the existing state universities and other bodies to design academic programmes and activities relevant to the national development agenda. The Government would continue to encourage churches and other private institutions to join in the efforts at helping the nation to come by the requisite manpower mix to drive the nation's growth. He said "as a religious institution, it goes without saying that products from this university must be imbued with a sense of patriotism and discipleship, to enable them to resist corrupt practices, when they leave this institution to join the job market." Mr. Opoku-Manu expressed worry about the soaring moral decadence in the country, underpinned by selfishness and greed and said his "expectation was that graduates from the institution would make a big difference to help stem the trend." Professor Edwin Kwame Wiredu, Chairman of the Governing Council, announced that they have secured a GH�300,000.00 loan to improve the infrastructure at the Campus. Additionally, they are working to team up with the Baylor University of the United States in faculty development, scholarships and student exchange programmes. The Reverend Dr. Kojo Osei-Wusuh, the acting President, urged the Council to hasten its move towards promoting meaningful partnerships with businesses to grow the University.