A delegation comprising members from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Association of African Universities (AAU), and representatives of the World Bank visited the Regional Transport Research and Education Centre, Kumasi (TRECK). The visit aimed to review progress following the No-Cost Extension and address implementation challenges as the project nears its conclusion in 2025.

The mission was led by Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director-General of GTEC, accompanied by Mr. Daniel Akansake, Mr. A.F. Mohammed Awal, Mr. Charles Mbeah, Dr. Aalangdong Edmund, and Mr. Frank K. Nketia from GTEC. Representing the AAU were Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire, ACE Impact Project Manager, and Mrs. Adeline Addy, Monitoring and Evaluations Officer.

During their visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, Provost of the College of Engineering. Prof. Nyarko expressed gratitude for the delegation’s ongoing support, emphasizing its critical role in driving the University's mission. The meeting also included Prof. Helen Essandoh, Director of TRECK; Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, Project Lead for KEEP; and Prof. Richard Buamah, Director of the Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre (RWESCK).

Prof. Jinapor Abdulai commended TRECK on its significant progress and encouraged the pursuit of local scholarships to retain talented students and mitigate brain drain. He also advocated for the establishment of a technology park at TRECK to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, urging efforts to scale these initiatives for broader societal impact.

Dr. Sylvia Mkandawire underscored the importance of maintaining high performance in Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) even beyond the funding phase. She stressed that sustainability must remain a priority for TRECK to continue its impactful work.

Prof. Helen Essandoh presented an update on TRECK’s achievements, highlighting milestones in areas such as student enrolment, programme accreditation, research output, innovation, internships, and infrastructure development.

The visit provided insights and recommendations to guide TRECK’s path forward. Key feedback included prioritizing sustainable initiatives, strengthening partnerships, and scaling up existing efforts to maximize impact.

TRECK extends its heartfelt appreciation to the delegation for their guidance and support. These insights will play a crucial role in ensuring the successful completion of the project and in solidifying TRECK’s position as a leader in transport research and education.

As we move closer to achieving our vision of academic excellence and sustainable development, we look forward to implementing the recommendations from the NFU visit and leveraging this experience to further elevate our initiatives.