Mahama inspects near-completed Peki College assembly hall, announces recruitment of 16,000 teachers

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President John Dramani Mahama has inspected progress on the construction of a new 1,500-capacity multipurpose assembly hall at the Peki College of Education, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to completing critical educational infrastructure projects across the country.

The inspection formed part of the President’s #ResettingGhana Tour of the Volta Region.

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Project abandoned for eight years

Speaking during the visit, President Mahama recalled that the assembly hall was one of two major projects initiated by his administration before leaving office in 2016.

“Before we left office in 2016, we started two important projects on this campus. The first was a girls’ hostel, which we completed before we left office. The second project was this auditorium, which we also started during our time in office,” President Mahama said.

While the girls’ hostel was completed and has since been serving students, construction of the assembly hall was abandoned for eight years after the change of government. The President expressed satisfaction that work has now resumed on the auditorium after years of inactivity, describing it as a significant investment in the future of teacher education in Ghana.

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Furnishing to be delivered this month

After touring the facility, the President expressed satisfaction with the quality of work, describing the building as a modern structure that would serve the institution for generations.

“I have taken time to inspect the progress of the project, and I must say that this is a very beautiful building that will serve the institution and its students for many years,” he stated.

President Mahama disclosed that the only outstanding component is the installation of furniture, which the contractor has assured will be delivered before the end of the month.

“We’ll come back with the traditional leaders and all the people in the area to commission this beautiful auditorium for your institution,” he said.

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Government clears recruitment of 16,000 teachers

Beyond infrastructure, the President used the occasion to address the pressing issue of graduate unemployment among trained teachers.

He announced that financial clearance has been granted for the recruitment of at least 16,000 newly trained teachers and graduates from the colleges of education, as part of efforts to clear the backlog of qualified professionals awaiting placement.

“Our aim is to ensure that when you complete your studies, you will not have to wait unnecessarily before opportunities are created for you to contribute to the development of Ghana,” he said.

President Mahama emphasised that the timely recruitment is intended to address the unnecessary delays that graduates face within the education sector, describing it as unacceptable for newly trained professionals to wait indefinitely for postings after successfully completing their academic programmes.

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Investment in teacher education

President Mahama further reiterated the government’s resolve to improve conditions across colleges of education through continued investments in hostels, academic infrastructure and other essential facilities.

“We are investing in hostels, infrastructure and other facilities that will improve the quality of teaching, learning and overall educational outcomes. Your institution will not be left out of these efforts. We will continue to support its growth and development,” he added.

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Call to students

The President encouraged students to remain focused on their studies and strive for excellence, stressing that Ghana’s future depends on a well-trained, skilled and motivated generation of teachers and professionals.

“Remain committed to your studies because the future of Ghana depends on well-trained, dedicated and hardworking young people like you. I look forward to returning here soon to celebrate the completion and commissioning of this important facility,” he said.