Oti Region Deserves University of Science, Agriculture and Technology (USAT)

Oti Region was carved out of the northern part of the Volta Region in December 2018 after a referendum that garnered 98.64% of the votes for its creation. The region covers a land area of 11,068 km² with a diverse population of 747,248. The region is known for its agricultural potential due to favourable climatic conditions. These potentials include the production of food crops (maize, rice, yam, cassava, millet, sorghum, cowpea, groundnut, and vegetables); cash crops (cocoa, oil palm, and coffee); and livestock farming (cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry). Also, the Oti River, Volta Lake, and other smaller rivers run through the region, which presents great opportunities for irrigated crop farming and aquaculture all year round. To fully realize the potential of the Region, the government of Ghana needs to provide the needed infrastructure, including an agriculture-specialized university.

The time is ripe for the government to establish the University of Science, Agriculture, and Technology for the people of the Oti region. Over the years, the region has suffered from neglect from the central government during the days when it was still part of the Volta Region. To date, the region is still grappling with development, especially road and educational infrastructure. One will ask why we, the citizens of Oti Region, are demanding a university. The following are the reasons why we need a newly established university.
• Access to university education will be at the doorstep of students from the Oti Region. The status quo now is that the majority of students travel long distances to attend universities in Ho, Tamale, Accra, Cape Coast, Winneba, Kumasi, etc. This puts a huge burden on parents, as the cost of transportation is extremely high these days.
• A university is a conduit through which many regions in Ghana develop. It attracts students, seasoned faculty members, and researchers from all regions of the world, leading to an increase in economic activity. The boom in population brings about high demand for accommodation, transportation, food, entertainment, etc.
• The university will be a means of retaining the talents of students in the Region. Currently, a large number of students from the Oti Region move to attend university outside the region and do not return after they complete their studies. With the University of Science, Agriculture, and Technology established, the likelihood of maintaining local talent and experience would increase.
• The proposal for the government to establish the University of Science, Agriculture and Technology will allow the region and Ghana at large to have professionals such as engineers, medical officers, agriculturists, technologists, etc. trained in the country.
• The university will also help in promoting cultural diversity as students from diverse backgrounds will interact with each other, thereby fostering cultural exchanges and social cohesion. The interaction of students with the citizens of the region will enhance their understanding of the cultures of others.
• Every university has a responsibility to engage the communities within their catchment areas. The citizens of Oti Region hope that the university will embark on outreach programmes in communities within the region to help address problems through research.
• Lastly, the university will provide job opportunities for the residents. Some menial jobs (cleaners, labourers, security officers, etc.) that will be available may be reserved for the locals. When this happens, the incomes of those employed will increase, thereby resulting in multiplier effects on their households.
• With the university, the untapped potential of the region will be identified through research and development. Universities are the reservoir for knowledge generation and finding solutions to societal problems, thereby leading to advancement in agriculture and agribusiness, health, technology, etc.
Unlike other regions that have universities, Oti Region has only two colleges of education offering only one degree programme. This does not help in unearthing the huge talents and potentials of students that are churned out of Senior High Schools.
In a nutshell, it is important for the two strong political parties, NDC and NPP, to take this proposal seriously and include it in their party manifestos to catch the attention of the chiefs and the citizens of Oti Region. I am passionately garnering support from all citizens in the Oti Region to demand their share of the national cake in the form of a university to spur the development that we have been longing for. The 2024 election is a great opportunity to drum up our request for the politicians to hear us.

Written by:
Dr. Franklin N. Mabe
Senior Lecturer and Director
Centre for Agricultural Productivity and Policy Studies
University for Development Students
Nyankpala, Tamale
Or
Unua Dɔ House
Chinderi
Krachi Nchumuru District