The provisional acceptance letters for the successful applicants were issued during a ceremony held on Tuesday at the GPPA’s head office at Kairaba Avenue.
This significant partnership, officials said, marks a pivotal step in advancing education in procurement and supply chain management for Gambians.
Kumasi Technical University, they added, will mentor GPPI’s advanced diploma students and facilitate their entry into the third-year degree program in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, provided they successfully complete their studies at GPPI with merit.
Speaking at the event, GPPA Director General, Phoday M. Jaiteh, spoke at length on the importance of the breakthrough, adding: “This is as a result of our collective commitment in moving the GPPI on the right track.”
“I have a very competent team and excellent lieutenants who do the hard work. My role has been to lead, guide, facilitate, and allocate resources where necessary. I am grateful to the management of GPPI for their dedication and hard work.”
Highlighting the significance of the partnership, he said: “This strategic decision was motivated by a vision to create opportunities for our youth and citizens to further their education at a renowned institution like Kumasi Technical University. Today, as I see 35 Gambians enrolled in this program, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride and fulfillment.”
He added: “We worked tirelessly to secure the best terms for our students. Initially, the program required three years of study, but we successfully negotiated to reduce it to two years—one year in The Gambia and the final year in Ghana. Moreover, we were able to bring down the tuition fee from $3,000 to $1,700 per annum, ensuring affordability for our students,” he postulated.
He encouraged the students to seize the opportunity and excel in their studies, emphasising that the program is designed to prepare them for significant contributions to the nation’s procurement and supply chain sector.
While celebrating the students’ achievements, Jaiteh also highlights GPPA’s commitment to fostering education and professional development for Gambians.
Director of Procurement Policy and Cooperation, Ibrahim Sanyang, expressed pride in the progress and achievements registered by the GPPI.
He added: “If you look at where we started and where we are now, along with the quality of our graduates in the field, we can truly say we have achieved a lot. We can confidently boast that our graduates are the best procurement officers in the country. That is a significant accomplishment.”
Mr. Sanyang highlighted instances where individuals with bachelor’s or master’s degrees were appointed as procurement officers but struggled to perform effectively. “In such cases, they are often recommended to come to GPPI to align their knowledge with the national procurement systems,” he said. “This alignment has made a tremendous impact, and we take pride in the outcomes.”
Addressing concerns about the quality of the collaboration with the Ghanaian University, Sanyang reassured the audience of its value, saying: “For those who may still be skeptical about the knowledge you will gain through this partnership, rest assured that we have visited Kumasi Technical University. They are innovative and ensure that their programs align with Ghana’s practical needs, avoiding purely theoretical approaches. This ensures that their courses are tailor-made to address the country’s specific demands,” he explained.
Kumasi Technical University approach, he said, focuses on practical, research-driven education, claiming further: “The beauty of their system lies in their dedication to identifying the country’s needs and designing their curriculum accordingly. This collaboration will undoubtedly benefit us by producing graduates equipped to meet national demands.”
