The current Head of Department Mr. Charles Brown has just completed his PhD programme in Biochemistry. The non-academic staff consists of two (2) administrative staff, one (1) Laboratory Technologist and three (3) National Service Personnel.
PROGRAMMES/COURSES -------------
The department runs two programmes, namely:
Science Laboratory Technician (Part 1). A two-year programme with twelve basic courses.
Higher National Diploma (HND) in Science Laboratory Technology. A three-year programme with the following components:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Instrumentation
STUDENT ENROLMENT ----------------
The student intake keeps on increasing with each passing year. Presently,the department has a total student enrolment of five hundred and thirty-nine (539). Out of this, one hundred and forty-four (144) students are studying Science Laboratory Technician Part 1 programme and three hundred and ninety-five (395) are pursuing HND Science Laboratory Technology programme. Of the total student enrolment, about forty percent (40%) are females.
TEACHING LABORATORIES --------------------
The chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry and Microbiology laboratories have been newly refurbished with internally generated funds. GETFund has allocated one billion cedis to the department to purchase modern equipment and chemicals for the laboratories.
The Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund (TALIF) has approved one hundred and ninety-six thousand three hundred and twenty-seven dollars ($196,327) for the purchase of equipment to enhance practical training of students in the department. These funds coupled with budget allocation for the department would make the laboratories put on an entirely new face in terms of equipment and chemicals.
RESEARCH -------------------------------
The department is in collaboration with a scientific company in the Netherlands to start a water purification project. Plans are far advanced to start a group research by the academic staff of the department
The Head of department Mr. Charles Brown has the following resesrch works and publications to his credits:
- K. M. Bosompem, Bentum, I. A. , Otchere, J., Anyan, W. K., Brown, C. A., Osada, Y., Takeo, S.,Kojima, S. and Ohta, N. (2004) Infant schistosomiasis in Ghana: a survey in an irrigation community. Trop. Med. Int. Health 9 (8): 917-922.
- Brown, C.A. & Wilson, M.D. (2002) The search for bacterial symbionts in mosquitoes for biological control. Biotech Ghana 2: 6-7.
- Okoye, P. N., Wilson, M.D., Boakye, D. A., & Brown, C. A., (2005) Impact of the Okyereko irrigation scheme in Ghana on malaria transmission by Anopheles species (Diptera: Culicidae). African Entomol. (in press).
- Brown C. A. (2004) The Detection and Molecular Characterisation of Bacterial Symbionts of Anopheles gambiae s. l. Ph.D Thesis. University of Ghana, Legon.
- Asmah R. H., Clement, C., Bosompem, K. M., Wilson, M. D., Brown, C.A., Osei, Y. D. & Addy, M. E. (2001) Molecular Characterization of Mineral Leaching Bacteria from a Gold Mine in Ghana using PCR and RFLP. pp 183-190. In: Process Metallurgy, Proceedings of the 14 th International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium 11A, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
The Vice-Principal, Dr. Sylvester Achio also has the following works ready in the department.
- The Project Work Guide 2003(unpublished)
- Laboratory Safety. 2003(unpublished)
- A survey into the common techniques works 2003(unpublished)
- The Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Accra Polytechnic 2003(unpublished)
PROJECTS ------------------------------
The deputy Head of Department, Mr. Andrew Minamor, is currently working the following projects:
- Studies on the efforts of some fungicides on the Rhizosphere microflora of cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L) seedlings.
- Influence of the metabolites of three Paecilonyces species of the germination and seedling development of two Ghanaian maize varieties (abelechi and Obaatanpa)
- Viruses affecting yam production in Ghana
- Currently investigating the Pathological and Molecular studies on three Paecilomyces species occurring in Ghanaian soils for his Ph. D.
Various other research studies are being carried out by other lecturers in the department:
- Mr Gideon Adotey is working on Nutritional Analysis of Ghanaian Edible mushrooms
- Mr. Edmund Ameko is developing Groundnut flour from roasted ground nut paste.
- Mr. G. Louis Williams is carrying out a Survey of Physiological effects of noise levels in industries
- Mr Christian Avi is working on Analysis of water from the Weija Dam and Kpeshie Lagoon.
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ----------------
Some Academic Staff are examiners to various National Examination Bodies
- render consultative services to some unit bodies and some private second cycle schools on proper running of science laboratories
- are moderators of examination questions for some private second cycle schools
- carry out various activities for churches they attend
PLANS ----------------------------
Plans are far advanced to link the department with sister polytechnics outside the country for exchange programmes.
The department is on the verge of being accredited to run the Bachelor of Technology (B – Tech) programme in Laboratory Technology. The part-time HND programme in Science Laboratory Technology is in progress. |
