The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, has commissioned the University’s newly refurbished Forensic Laboratory on October 22, 2025, at the Tesano Campus.
The commissioning ceremony marks another significant milestone in the Vice-Chancellor’s “Silicon Valley Agenda,” which seeks to transform GCTU into a modern hub for innovation, technology and applied research.
In his brief address, Prof. Afoakwa explained that the refurbishment of the Forensic Laboratory forms part of the University’s broader initiative to create advanced IT facilities for students and staff. He noted that the decision to revitalize the existing lab was driven by the need to equip the University with world-class computers and modern equipment capable of delivering additional services to students, staff and external organizations across Ghana that send their personnel to GCTU for training. The Vice-Chancellor added that the initiative also supports the Centre for Strategic Business and Professional Development (CSBPD) by providing them with a fully-equipped and modern laboratory to enhance their training programmes.
Prof. Afoakwa also indicated that the refurbished Forensic Laboratory represents the second phase of the Centre for Innovation, Technology, Skills and Entrepreneurship (CITSET) laboratory project, which aligns with the University’s vision to establish Ghana’s own “Silicon Valley.” He explained that this initiative aims to expand the number of modern laboratories available for the training of students and staff, as well as to serve institutions and organizations nationwide in support of Ghana’s broader digital transformation agenda.
He emphasized that as an ICT-focused institution, GCTU must be adequately equipped to create the resources and learning environment needed for the development of the human capital required to drive the country’s digitalization efforts – an agenda that the Government of Ghana is currently pursuing with great determination.
The Director of the Centre for Strategic Business and Professional Development (CSBPD), Mrs. Araba Hackman Akanji, also highlighted the ongoing training programmes being conducted in the laboratory. She noted that the Centre is currently training young Senior High School and university students who are on vacation to help them acquire practical skills in graphic design.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Senior Systems Analyst/Programmer at the ICT Directorate, Mr. Daniel Mohammed, explained that the newly-refurbished Forensic Laboratory has a 30-seater capacity equipped with high-performance computers and multimedia headsets to support both in-person and online training sessions. He added that the facility is also fitted with a projector, a dedicated public address system, and a 10 KVA Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to ensure a stable power source. In addition, extra air conditioners have been installed to complement the existing ones, and the lab is fully connected to high-speed internet and Wi-Fi access to enhance digital learning experiences.
The event concluded with a tour of the lab, with the Vice-Chancellor briefly demonstrating its advanced capabilities
