The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, officially commissioned its new state-of-the-art conference facility in a landmark ceremony that brought together key stakeholders within the education sector.
The 600-capacity auditorium, which was commissioned by the Hon.Minister for Education and MP for Tamale South, Lawyer Haruna Iddrisu, was named in honour of Paul Effah, a distinguished figure in Ghana's higher education landscape. In addition to the main auditorium are mini halls dedicated to other prominent leaders who had served in various capacities at GTEC, the erstwhile National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the erstwhile National Accreditation Board (NAB) such as Kwame Dartey, Nikoi Kotey, Mohammed Salifu and F.O. Kwami. The facility is fully air-conditioned and equipped with modern amenities to support high-level events and stakeholder engagements, with the mini halls being ideal for executive meetings, seminars and breakout sessions.
The Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor in his welcome address expressed appreciation to the staff for their dedication and efforts in supporting the mission and vision of the Commission.
The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, in delivering his speech said Ghana is thankful to Paul Effah, Prof. Mahama Duwiejua and other past leaders of the Commission for working hard to ensure that the country has a strong regulator in the higher education space. He also tasked the current Board Chair of the Commission, Prof. Mahama Duwiejua to get a team to advise government on the need to establish polytechnics in each of the sixteen regions of Ghana, to serve as a buffer between senior high/technical schools and the universities in order to improve employability and industry connection.
Paul Effah, who was honoured, by naming the main auditorium after him, thanked the Board, management and entire staff of the Commission on behalf of the other honourees, for the recognition and honour given them. “If we were able to make any significant contribution to GTEC, it was because we had capable technical and operational support from our staff and various councils. We thank them, salute them and share this honour with them”. He stated.
The Board Chairman of GTEC, Prof. Mahama Duwiejua, in his closing remarks, commended the Commission’s leadership and staff for their commitment to progress, and assured stakeholders that the newly commissioned facility would serve as a vital hub for academic discourse, policy dialogue, and collaborative innovation in the tertiary education sector. Prof. Duwiejua also assured the Minister of working towards his call for the establishment of polytechnics in all 16 regions of Ghana.
Other dignitaries present at the commissioning included the Chief Director, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Mamle Andrews, the Chief Technical Advisor to the Minister, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, the Director for Tertiary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Emmanuel Newman, the former Board Chairman of GTEC, Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur, the Director-General, Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Zakariah Sulemana and the Head of Legal, Ministry of Education, Matilda Azuimah.