The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) has held a New Year Service to usher members of the University community into the year 2026.
The service, which forms part of the University’s annual tradition, was held at the University Auditorium on Tuesday, 6th January 2026, under the theme “New Beginning, New Mind, New Responsibility.” It brought together management, staff, and students for reflection, thanksgiving, and recommitment to the University’s shared vision.
Delivering the New Year message, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, reviewed key achievements recorded by the University in 2025 and outlined priorities for the year ahead.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted notable progress in infrastructure and institutional development, including the completion and operationalisation of the Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS) Fuel Station, the commencement of construction of the University Hospital, and the establishment of a Smart Systems Centre. The Centre was equipped through a USD 1.5 million donation from AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Limited (AAIL) to support teaching, innovation, and practical training in Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and Machine Learning.
He also reported on ongoing and completed infrastructure projects across the University’s campuses, such as the construction of staff offices, the commencement of a Faculty Block at the School of Railway and Infrastructure Development (SRID) at Essikado, Sekondi, the completion of two out of three floors of the Obosu Block at the University Basic School (UBaS), and the completion of the Central Classroom Block. He further announced the restructuring of the Audio-Visual Unit into the UMaT Press and Media Centre to strengthen the University’s publishing and media functions.
On academic development, the Vice Chancellor noted that 2025 recorded a significant number of professorial promotions, resulting in the delivery of four inaugural lectures, while several faculty members were supported to complete their PhD programmes.
The Vice Chancellor also announced the introduction of five new undergraduate programmes, namely: Bachelor of Science in Finance and Data Science, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with Finance, Bachelor of Science in Transport Management, and Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. These additions bring the total number of new programmes introduced over the past five years to thirteen and have contributed to increased student enrolment and academic diversity.
Professor Amankwah further highlighted UMaT’s growing industry engagement, citing a joint venture with Rabotec to support the University’s Small-Scale Mining initiative. Through this partnership, about 600 students from the Geological and Geomatic Engineering Departments have received practical training in greenfield exploration techniques, equipping them with hands-on skills for mining operations.
Touching on staff welfare, the Vice Chancellor indicated that health screening reports for 2025 showed that the majority of staff were in good health. He encouraged members with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension to adhere strictly to their prescribed medication.
Addressing challenges facing the University, Professor Amankwah announced that the MIIF-sponsored Technical Training Centre and the National Mining Museum and Research Centre had been halted due to changes in national legislation and regulatory frameworks. He assured the University community that management was actively seeking alternative partnerships to realise these projects.
Outlook for 2026
Looking ahead, Professor Amankwah stated that his tenure of office as Vice Chancellor will officially end on 31st July 2026. Consequently, the University will prioritise the completion of ongoing projects during the first half of the year.
He also disclosed that the Office of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (ORIC), in collaboration with CampRide, has established a driving training school on campus to provide practical skills training and retooling opportunities for both staff and students.
The Vice Chancellor further informed the University community of a new directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) regarding staff retirement in public universities. He explained that effective 2026, GTEC has introduced two pension cycles annually; in June and December for teaching staff who attain the statutory retirement age of 60 years within the first and second halves of the year, respectively. Non-teaching staff, however, will retire from the service of the University on their birthdays upon attaining the age of 60 years.
As part of the New Year Service, the University Chaplain, Reverend Father Vincent Dan Teiko, delivered a sermon in which he charged staff and students to embrace a renewed mindset towards institutional transformation. He described the New Year as a period of spiritual and psychological renewal and urged members of the University to take responsibility for personal and institutional growth, emphasising discipline, accountability, collaboration, and excellence as essential for sustained transformation.
