In a brief remark before the signing of the deed, the Vice-Chancellor of ATU, Prof. Samuel Nii Odai, said, “as the Vice-Chancellor of University, I am honoured and enthused to be signing this MoU with GEA. The University is determined to provide each student with entrepreneurial and ICT skills, and an understanding of leadership and managerial roles’’. This partnership, he added  “clearly helps us achieve this strategic objective. It will therefore allow us to add greater value to our students’ education.”

According to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GEA, Mrs. Anna Armo-Himbson, the partnership falls within their new focus of introducing women, youth, and persons with disabilities to entrepreneurial skills and technical training. She revealed that the collaboration will go beyond contributing to creating 39,000 jobs under the Yong Africa Works Programmes. She added that the collaboration will further provide an atmosphere to nurture the youth to live as responsible adults. “This initiative aligns with the Government of Ghana vision for industrial transformation of the country” Mrs. Armo-Himbson concluded in her remarks.

The Registrar of ATU, Mrs. Sylvia Beatrice Oppong-Mensah who was also present at the signing was pleased with the partnership and was hopeful that it would go a long way to assisting students and graduates to establish their own businesses at a time where the private sector is regarded as the driver of many an economy. She added that her office is available to provide any additional administrative support if need be.

It is expected that the partnership will go beyond the initially agreed expiration and even culminate to the establishment of an Incubator Centre on campus.

The Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University, Professor Samuel Nii Odai signed on behalf of the University and witnessed by the Registrar, Mrs. Sylvia Oppong-Mensah whereas Mrs. Kosi Antwiwaa Yankey-Ayeh, Chief Executive Officer of GEA signed on behalf of her organisation and witnessed by her Deputy, Mrs. Anna Armo-Himbson

Also present at the signing were the GEA National Programme Coordinator; Susan H.A. Yemudi, GEA Innovation Creating & Entrepreneurship; Mami Serwaa Amoakohene, GEA Greater Accra Regional Director; Anthea Ohene Mayne, GEA Access to Finance Coordinator; Eunice Dewi Adjei, GEA Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship; Cynthia Debrah. The rest were: ATU Director of Finance; Mr. Frank Owusu Boateng, ATU Dean of Faculty of Business; Dr. Shani Bashiru and ATU Director of WPD; Ing. Mubarak K. Abubakar, and the Head of Department, Management and Public Administration; Dr. Emelia Ohene Afriyie.